
Copyright N° 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



AN ACCOUNT 
OF SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF 

WEST DUNSTABLE, MONSON 
AND HOLLIS, N. H. 



BY 
CHARLES S. SPAULDING 



THE TELEGRAPH PRESS 

NASHUA, N. H. 
1915 



M 28 1916 



>CI.A433632 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Arbucke, William 5 

Atwell, John, Sr. • • 187 

Atwell, John 188 

Ames, Stephen 246 

Barton, Henry ••.... 10 

Bailey, Daniel, Sr 71 

Bailey, Capt. Daniel, Jr 72 

Bailey, Joel • • 73 

Bailey, Aaron 74 

Blanchard, Benjamin, Sr 75 

Blanchard, Benjamin, Jr 76 

Brown, Samuel, Sr ■ • . . 77 

Brown, Lieut. Josiah 78 

Brown, Dr. John 79 

Brown, Samuel, Jr. • • 80 

Blanchard, "William 182 

Bowers, Oliver 199 

Bowers, James ....•• 200 

Brooks, John 226 

Brooks, Capt. William 227 

Blood, Simeon . . • • 229 

Bailey, Daniel, .3rd 233 

Baldwin, Reuben, Esq 247-248 

Butterfield, Isaac W 249 

Colburn, William, Sr ■• 34 

Colburn, Lieut. Robert 82 

Colburn, William, Jr 97 

Colburn, Robert, Jr ■ • 98 

Cobbett, Isaac 114 

Clark Joshua • ■ 189 

Combs, Leonard 232 

Clapp, Capt. John • • . . 238 

Dinsmore, Thomas 9 

Dinsmore, Abraham, Sr 31 

Danforth, Jonathan, Sr. ...••.. 43 

Danf orth, Jonathan, Jr 44 

Drury, Zedekiah 33 

Duncklee, David, Sr....- 84-85 

Duncklee, Hezekiah 86 

Duncklee, Curtis 87 

Dutton, John, Jr • • 106 

Durrah, Robert, Jr 162 

Davis, Joshua 175 

Dodge, Benjamin • • 245 

Emerson, Rev. Daniel 62-63 

Emerson, Deacon Daniel, Jr. . . . 64 

Emerson, Col. William 65 

Emerson, Moses 66 

Emerson, Deacon Timothy .... 67 

Emerson, Thomas 68 

Estabrook, Joseph 225 

Fry, Calvin 4 

Farley, Lieut. Benjamin 11 



French, Gen. William 54-55 

Foster, Jonathan 69 

Farwell, Oliver, Jr 70 

Fletcher, Samuel 105 

French, Joseph 165 

Farley, Ebenezer •■.... 190 

Farley, Ebenezer, Jr 191 

Farley, Benjamin, 3rd 192 

Farley, Jesse • • 193 

Farley, James 194 

Farley, Capt. Caleb 195 

Farley, Samuel 196 

'Farley, Benjamin, Esq 197 

Farley, Benjamin M., Esq 198 

Fletcher, Amos 250 

Goodhue, Deacon Samuel.. ••.. 81 

Gould, Joseph 88 

Gould, Abijah, Sr . 89 

Gould, Deacon Ambrose 90 

Gould, Abijah, Jr . 92 

Harris, Stephen 12 

Hasting-s, John • 49 

Hood, Joseph 94 

Hood, Joseph, Jr 95-96 

Hobbs, Deacon Humphrey 143 

Hubbard, Lazarus 176 

Hubbard, Major Luther 180 

Hardy, Phineas, Sr. • • 208 

Hardy, Phineas, Jr 209 

Hardy, Jesse, Sr 210 

Hardy, Isaac • 211 

Hardy, Moses, Sr 212 

Hardy, Solomon . 213 

Hardy, Dr. Noah 214 

Hardy, Capt. James 215 

Hardy, Samuel L 216 

Hardy, Deacon Enos 217 

Hardy, Deacon Aaron...- 218 

Hayden, Samuel 221 

Hayden, Josiah 222 

Hayden, Capt. Samuel • 223 

Jewett, Enoch 163 

Johnson, Deacon Noah .... 53 

Kendrick, Benjamin 50 

Kendrick, Capt. Daniel ..... 51 

Kendrick, Daniel, Jr 52 

Kidder, Josiah, Sr 99 

Kidder, Josiah, Jr • . . . . 100 

Kendall, Capt. Ebenezer, Jr 116 

Kendall, Hezekiah 117 

Kendall, Luther • ■ . . . 118 

Kendall, Willard 119 

Kittredg-e, William, Sr 120 



TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 



Kittredge, William, Jr...-- 121 

Keyes, Abner 164 

Keyes, Jonas ■ • 251 

Leeman, Samuel, Sr 13 

Leeman, Samuel, Sr 14-15 

Leeman, Samuel, Jr 16 

Leeman, Abraham. . • • 17-18 

Leeman, Ensign Samuel 19 

Leeman, Nathaniel 20 

Lund, Jonathan, Jr 48 

Lovejoy, Stephen. . • • 169 

Lund, Ephraim, Jr...-- 239 

Melvin, Capt. Ebenezer 47 

Mooar, Jacob • . 103-104 

Marsh, Onesiphorus 185 

Messer, Deacon Benjamin, Jr. 235 

Mooar, Lt. Col. John •• 244 

Mead, Isreal 40 

Murdough, Samuel •• 83 

Martin, John, Sr 37 

Nevins, Thomas, Sr 21 

Nevins, Deacon Thomas, Jr.... 22 

Nevins, David ■ • 23 

Nevins, William, Sr 24-25 

Nevins, Lieut. William, Jr 26 

Nevins, Joseph 27 

Nevins, Benjamin ....•• 28 

Needham, Stearns 201-202 

Needham, Jeremiah K 203 

Needham, Phineas S 204 

Orcutt, Ruf us 174 

Ober, Samuel 183 

Ober, Zachariah 184 

Powers, Capt. Peter 6-7 

Powers, Thomas • . 8 

Powers, Jonathan 101-102 i 

Pratt, Thomas • . 91 

Proctor, Ezekel, Jr 93 

Parker, Lieut. Levi 110 

Parker, Josiah, Sr. • • Ill 

Parker, Josiah, Jr 112 

Parker, Capt. Isaac 113 

Peacock, Daniel, Jr • • 173 

Patch, Deacon Thomas 178 

Patch, Thomas, Jr 179 

Parker, Samuel, Jr. • • 228 

Powers, John 236 

Parker, James 241 

Rogers, Timothy 3 

Rogers, Benjamin, Sr 152 

Rogers, Benjamin, Jr 153 

Rideout, James • . . . 219 

Rideout, James, Jr 220 



Rayley, Richard ... 224 

Rogers, Capt. Solomon 237 

Saunders, Moses 29 

Smith, Elias ■ ■ 30 

Searle, William, Jr 32 

Shattuck, Zachariah 41 

Shattuck, William • . 42 

Spalding, Jonathan, Sr 122-123 

Spalding, Abiel 124 

Spalding, Abel . . ■ • 125 

Spalding, Jonathan, Jr 126 

Spalding, Asaph 127 

Spalding, Loammi 128 

Spalding, Edward • • 129 

Spalding, Silas, Sr 130 

Spalding, Capt. Silas, Jr 131 

Spalding, Silas, 3rd 132 

Spalding, Col. Stillman..-- 133 

Spalding, Capt. Asaph 134 

Stearns, Samuel, Sr 136 

Stearns, Samuel, Jr 137 

Stearns, Isaac • • 138 

Stearns, Joseph, Sr 139 

Stearns, Joseph, Jr 140 

Stearns, Thomas W 141 

Scoby. Major William- • 142 

Shedd, John, Jr 170 

Shedd, John, 3rd 171 

Shedd, Capt. Ebenezer ..... 172 

Sawtelle, John 177 

Spalding, Jacob • • . . 181 

Stewart, James 186 

Smith, Rev. Mannasseh 205 

Smith, Governor Samuel E 206 

Smith, John 207 

Shattuck, Zachariah, Jr • • . 240 

Taylor, Abraham, Jr 60 

Taylor, Jonathan 61 

Towne, Capt. Israel ....•• 107 

Towne, Capt. Archelaus 108 

Towne, Elisha 109 

Taylor, Edward • • 135 

Truell, Moses 243 

Wheeler, James, Sr 35 

Wheeler, Peter, Sr • • 36 

Wooley, Thomas 38 

Woolrich, Philip 39 

Willoughby, John • • 45 

Wallingsford, Lieut. David.... 46 

Wheeler, Capt. Thomas 56 

Wheeler, James, Jr 57 

Wheeler, Daniel • • 58 

Wheeler, Lieut. Thaddeus 59 



TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 



Wood, Abijah 115 

Wright, Capt. Joshua ••.. 144 

Wright, Benjamin, Sr 145 

Wright, Benjamin, Jr 146 

Wright, Samuel, Jr 147 

Wright, Lemuel • • 148 

Wright, Gaius 149 

Wright, Benjamin Winchol.... 150 

Wright, Jonathan Taylor 151 

Willoughby, Jonas, Sr 154 

Willoughby, Jonas, Jr • • 155 

Willoby, Oliver, Sr 156 



Willoby, David 157 

Willoughby, Ensign Samuel ••.. 158 

Wheeler, Simon 159 

Wheeler, Timothy, Sr 160 

Wheeler, Timothy, Jr 161 

Wood, Hiram 166 

Wood, Deacon Philip 167 

Wood, Ensign Lewis 168 

Whiting, John • • . 230 

Whiting, Capt. Leonard 231 

Wheeler, Major James 242 

Wheeler, Zebulon 234 



COPYRIGHT 1916 
BY TOWN OF MOLLIS. N. 



TIMOTHY ROGERS. 

Timothy Rogers, a descendant of John Rogers, who was 
born in Watertown, Mass., September 11, 1641, and served in 
tlie Narragansett war of 1675, for which he received for his 
sei'vices from the Massachusetts Colonial Court a land grant 
lying west of Pennichuck pond in West Dunstable, N. H. 

Air. Rogers was killed by the Indians, August 5, 1695, and 
subsequently his land grant was transmitted to his grandson, 
Timothy, who was born November 30, 1717. 

He was a trapper and fur-trader with the Indians. To com- 
ply with Colonial law whoever held this land title came here prior 
to 1739. He built, or caused to be built, a turning mill within the 
land grant. This mill was situated on a little brook about one 
mile west of South Merrimack, which flowed into Witch brook, 
the location being about half a mile north of the present school 
house in District Number 8 at North Hollis, now situated in 
the extreme south part of Amherst, N. H. 

The place where this mill was situated is known to this 
day as "Rogers pond." 



CALVIN FRY. 

Calvin Fry, a descendant of John Fry, an early settler of 
Andover, Mass. Presumably for services rendered the Com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts, he received a land grant from the 
Colonial Court, lying west of the Timothy Rogers' grant, being 
and including nearly all the west part of District Number 8 at 
North Hollis. 

Mr. Fry, probably a contemporary of Mr. Rogers, was also 
a trapper and fur-trader with the Indians, both being here only 
temporarily. Mr. Fry came here as early as 1729, built a turn- 
ing mill and engaged in the manufacture of wooden ware, car- 
lying some specimens to the authorities at Boston as proof of 
complying with the law by which he held his land grant. 

This mill was situated near the old Spalding place at North 
Hollis. The writer has whiled away many an hour in his boy- 
hood days playing with his water wheel at this old Fry mill site. 

Mr. Fry erected a log hut a few rods east from his mill, 
where he resided transiently. Later, a portion of his property 
passed into the hands of James Woodward of Reading, Mass 
It being situated on Witch brook, a mill privilege was sold to 
Jonathans Danforth & Lund in 1760, who erected and operated 
a sawmill here until about 1775, when this property was sold 
to Jonathan Spalding. 

Mr. Fry's ancestors owned and operated the saw, fulling 
and grist mills in Andover Village, Mass., many years. 



WILLIAM ARBUCKLE. 

William Arbuckle, born at Bush Mills in the north of Ire- 
land in 1700, of Scotch-Irish descent, whose ancestors fought 

at the siege of Londonderry. He married Elizabeth 

in 1720, and immediately migrated to this country and settled 
in Londonderry, but shortly removed to the Souhegan valley in 
West Dunstable and subsequently coming within the chartered 
limits of Merrimac, where he resided the remainder of his life. 

Mr. Arbuckle was one of those pioneer settlers whose first 
employment was trapping and fur-trading with the Indians. No 
place in New England offered better facilities for trapping than 
did this section of old Dunstable. His children as found re- 
corded were: Elizabeth, born on the Atlantic ocean in 1720, 
married Alexander Patterson; William, Jr., born in 1724, mar- 
ried Mary , 1750, resided in Merrimac; Abigail, born 

in 1726, married William McClure, resided in Merrimac; Sarah, 
born July 20, 1728, married Hugh Gillis, died in Merrimac. 
February 20, 1829. 

When Sarah /».rbuckle was about 18 years old a wounded 
Indian came to her door one morning whom she took in and 
nursed. He remained until he was able to go to Canada. Some 
months after this, a party of St. Francis Indians rushed into 
her cabin, the foremost one with tomahawk raised intending to 
dispatch her, when one of the number jumped before him with 
raised arms, saying: "You no kill her, you kill me." He saved 
her life. This Indian proved to be the one she had befriended. 



CAPT. PETER POWERS. 

Capt. Peter Powers, a descendant of a long line of noble 
ancestry, was a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Whitcomb Powers, 
born in Littleton, Mass., in 1707 ; married Anna Keyes early in 
the year of 1728, and immediately moved to Dunstable, N. H, 
In September, 1730, he started for the Nissitisset wilderness 
(now Hollis) with axe and gun in hand, and a pack on his back, 
to fix his future residence in the then dense and unbroken for- 
ests, having previously purchased about thirty-seven acres of 
land ; commenced clearing a portion of this land and erecting 
his log hut, and in January, 1731, removed his family here, thus 
becoming the first permanent settler of Hollis. 

Mr. Powers became a noted backwoodsman and colonial 
land surveyor. He was employed much of the time in laying 
out farms and townships, receiving his pay mostly in land. At 
one time he owned fifteen (1500) hundred acres, lying south 
of the Rogers and Fry grants, at the north part of Hollis. Mr. 
Powers was also distinguished as a militia officer in the old 
French war, having by his personal efforts raised a company in 
Dunstable and vicinity. He was commissioned captain of this 
company by Governor Wentworth. 

In 1754 he was sent to Coos meadows, so-called, to demolish 
a fort which, it was rumored, the French were building, but 
he encountered no opposition. 

Mr. Powers' children, as found recorded, were : Rev, 
Peter, Jr., born in Dunstable, November 29, 1728, died in 
Maine, May 13, 1800, residence, Haverhill, N. H.,; Stephen, 
born October 28, 1729, married Lucy Cummings of Dunstable, 
January 5, 1757 ; Anna, born in West Dunstable, March 9, 
1732, married Benjamin Hopkins in 1753, died April 9, 1812; 
Whitcomb, born October 10, 1733, married Mary Dolliver, May 
20, 1755, second marriage, Ehzabeth Lawrence, October 18, 
1759; Phebe, born February 5, 1735, married Joseph Bates, 
April 8, 1756, residence New Ipswich ; Alice, born, December 
30. 1736, died unmarried February 13, 1825, aged 88; Levi, 



born June 3, 1739; Nahum, born April 11, 1741, married Mary 
Wheat, February 7, 1769, residence Plymouth, N. H. ; Francis, 
born July 15, 1742, married Elizabeth Cummings, residence 
Hollis, had twelve children, killed by lightning July, 1796; 
Fanna, born April 19, 1744, died young; Philip, born May 20, 
1746 ; Samson, born March 13, 1748, married Elizabeth Abbott, 
residence Temple, January 9, 1822 ; Fanna, born March 22, 1750. 

Mr. Powers was a prominent citizen in the new settlement; 
held many offices of trust with no other reward than to feel that 
he had done his duty. He died August 27, 1757, of fever, age 
50 years ; buried in church yard at Hollis. His wife, Anna, 
died September 21, 1798, age 90, buried in church yard at Hollis. 

Mr. Powers served in the French war as captain of a 
company raised for the Crown Point expedition of 1755, from 
April 24 to November 31. 



THOMAS POWERS. 

Thomas Powers of Westford, who married Hephzibah 
about 1740, settled in West Dunstable very early in 



its history, locating about half a mile east of Patch Corner on 
the place since known as the Wincol Wright or Minot Wheeler 
place. 

Mr. Powers built and put in operation a grist mill which 
was supposed to be the first one in this section. This mill was 
located on the brook running from Long to Pennychuck ponds. 
At that time and for a hundred years after, the farmers raised 
all the grain they used, and the grist mills in those days were 
well patronized institutions. 

There is in the Monson record an account of the birth of 
one daughter, Hannah, born February 25, 1753, and a daugh- 
ter Hephzibah, married Capt. Wm. Brooks, September 20, 1787. 

Mrs. Hephzibah, wife of Thomas Powers, died March 15, 
1789. Mr. Thomas Powers died between 1788 and 1794. 



THOMAS DINSMORE. 

Thomas Dinsmore, probably a native of Billerica, Mass., 
born in 1704, possessed with more than an ordinary business 
capacity. He was engaged in land speculation to a considerable 

extent. He married Hannah in 1724, and settled in 

Bedford, Mass., where all his children were born, as follows: 

Hannah, born December, 23, 1725, married William Searles, 
August 6, 1747, residence Hollis and Temple, N. H. ; Sussannah, 
born July 8, 1727, married Capt. Ebenezer Melvin in 1747, resi- 
dence Monson ; Abraham, born February 22, 1730, married 

Lydia in 1752 ; residence Temple, N. H. ; Thomas, Jr., 

born, March 5, 1731, residence in Temple; John, born January 
24, 1733 ; Eliphalet, born December 23, 1734, married Hannah 
Treadwell, October 5, 1757, residence Washington, N. H. ; 
Abel, born December 27, 1736. 

Mr. Dinsmore purchased land in West Dunstable, made a 
clearing, erected his log hut, etc., as early as 1733. He was 
said to be the third settler in West Dunstable. This place was 
situated in the south part of the town of Hollis, known as the 
Eastman place. Mr. Dinsmore was quite prominent in Parish 
affairs. It was through his influence that the Parish voted to 
put the first meeting house on his land ; this vote was reconsid- 
ered through the influence of those living in the northern part 
of the Precinct. In consequence of this and other matters, Mr. 
Dinsmore removed back to Bedford in September 1741 and re- 
mained until September 1745. He was influential in getting 
Patch Corner people set off to Monson on chartering of Hollis. 
Mr. Dinsmore died December 10, 1748, and is buried in the 
old yard, Hollis. Mrs. Dinsmore died July 23, 1767, and is 
buried in the old yard, Hollis. This family all removed to 
Temple, N. H., before 1770. 



10 

HENRY BARTON. 

Henry Barton, Ixorn in Littleton, Mass., in 1706, a 
descendant of those Bartons who settled in Massachusetts prior 
to 1700; married Sarah T.ell of Westford, Mass., October 31, 
17;?1, settled in West Dunstable in the spring of 1734 at a place 
called "Love Lane." situated southwest of Hollis village. 

He was elected Parish assessor in and for the year of 1741 
and appointed Parish collector for the year 1743. His children 
as found recorded were : 

Sarah, born October 3, 1734, married John Campbell, April 
?4. ITtiO, residence Townsend ; Mary, born January G, 1736, 
married Johathan Wallace, October 7, 1755, residence Townsend, 
Mass. 

Mr. Barton continued to reside at Love Lane until his death, 
which occurred April 20, 1760. Later Mrs. Barton sold the 
property to Capt. Reuben Dow, and went to Townsend, Mass., 
to reside with her daughter, and died there. Mrs. Barton, to- 
gether with her two daughters, deeded the farm, containing all 
the real estate owned by them, to Captain Dow, under date of 
April 17, 1761, at which time it is supposed Mrs. Barton went 
to Townsend. 



11 

LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN FARLEY. 

Lieutenant Benjamin Farley, son of Benjamin and Annie 
Dustin Farley, born in Billerica, Mass., August 28, 1708; married 
Joanna Page in 1732, settled in West Dunstable in 1735 at a 
point south of Mollis village known as the Worcester place, 
where he opened a hotel, the first public house in West Dun- 
stable. The parish meetings were held here prior to building 
the meeting house. In 1750 he sold to Rev. Francis Worcester 
and removed to the Captain Parker place in Monson. On ac- 
count of malaria caused by draining Witch brook he sold out 
here and moved to the Joseph Patch place in HoUis in the spring 
of 1755. 

Mr. Farley was prominent in Parish affairs, having served 
as one of the selectmen in 1740 and 1741, and the town of Hollis 
for 1746, '47 and '48, and the town of Monson for 1753. His 
children were as follows: Joanna, born April 21, 1733, married 
Samuel Burge, June 2, 1754; Rebecca, born April 29, 1735; Ben- 
jamin, Jr., born June 30, 1737, served in the war of the Revolu- 
tion; Molly, born November 25, 1739, married John Shattuck, 
December 9, 1779 ; Betty, born June 23, 1742, married Benjamin 
Austin, November 24, 17G8, residence Hollis; Lucy, born Feb- 
ruary 13, 1744, married Abel Shipley, November 24, 1768; 
Ebenezer, born September 19, 1747, married Betty Wheeler, 
November G, 1760 ; Hannah, born February 28, 1750, died in 
1754; Christopher, born April 1, 1751, married Ruth Jewett, 
December 10, 1773 ; Stephen, born January 28, 1754, married 
Mary Shattuck, January 28, 1779, died January 13, 1837; 
Plannah, born January 31, 1757, married John Ball of Temple, 
December 4, 1777; Sarah, born September 28, 1761, married 
William W. Poole, October 17, 1780. 

Mr. Farley died December 23, 1787, aged 79 years. Mrs. 
Farley died May 20, 1797, aged 80 years. Mr. Farley was 
commissioned lieutenant in the Colonial Militia. 



12 

STEPHEN HARRIS. 

Stephen Harris, son of Deacon Timothy Harris, born in 
Rowley, Mass., June 10, 1700 ; removed to Littleton in 1724 
and occupied land left him by his father. He married Mary 

June 2, 1728, resided in Littleton until 1735 when 

he settled in West Dunstable at a point on the side hill, south 
of Patch corner. 

His children as found recorded were as follows : Sarah, 
Lorn in Littleton, January 22, 1730, married Benjamin Hend- 
rick, March 1, 1750 ; Hannah, born April 29, 1732, married 
Daniel Hendrick, June 29, 1759, killed by her son; Phebe, born 
February 16, 1735, married Aaron Colburn, November 6, 1755, 
residence Dracut; Eleanor, born in West Dunstable in 1737, 
married Job Harris, February 11, 1761, residence Athol ; 
Elizabeth, born in 1739, died in June 1753 ; Joseph, born in 1711, 
died in June 1753 ; Susanna, born in 1743, died in June, 1753 ; 
Stephen, Jr., born in 1746, died in June, 1753. 

Mr. Harris was a man of some influence in the new settle- 
ment. His house stood in Hollis, just south of the Monson 
line. He built a substantial frame house that after his death 
v/as moved down to the Thomas Patch place. Mr. Harris had 
much to do about taking the meeting house lot from the Dins- 
more place and locating it where it now stands. 

Mr. Harris died September 20, 1775, buried in church 
yard. Mrs. Mary Harris died June 2, 1786, aged 81 years. 
They were the great grandparents of President Franklin Pierce. 



13 

SAMUEL LEEMAN, Senior. 

The name of Leeman appears to have originated near the 
borders of a lake by that name in Switzerland, forming the 
boundary between Switzerland and France. The family name 
came early into English history. They were characterized as 
an honest yeomanry residing at Beadle, England, from which 
place Mr. Leeman migrated in 1633 and settled in Charlestown, 
Mass., at the age of twelve years. He was admitted as a free- 
man December 22, 1642; died in 1673. 

His widow married Philip Cromwell, a relative of Oliver, 
November 19, 1674. Mr. Leeman's son, Samuel, born in 1643, 
married Mary Langley in 1665 and settled in Groton, Mass. 
He served in the Narragansett war and returned to Charles- 
town, and died there, leaving a son, Samuel, born in Groton, 

April 29, 1667, who married Margaret and settled 

in Reading, Mass., in 1687. His wife died previous to 1715, 
as on September 3, 1715, he married Hannah Damon, and died 
in 1724, leaving a son, Samuel, Jr., born in 1692, who was one 
of the pioneer settlers of West Dunstable. 



14 



SAMUEL LEEMAN, Senior. 

Samuel Leeman, Sr., son of Samuel and Margaret Leeman, 
bom in Reading, Mass., in 1(392, married Mary Bryant, a 
daughter of Abraham Bryant, the village blacksmith at Reading, 
in September, 1716. He resided in Reading until 1720, when 
he removed to Lynnfield for a short time, then returned to 
Reading again, residing here until the fall of 1735, when he 
settled in Souhegan West near the stone bridge, now Amherst, 
N. H. He helped to erect the first meeting house in Amherst. 
On account of some Parish dilificulty he removed to West 
Dunstable in the spring of 1737 and settled at a point north of 
Monson village place, now west of the Wallingford place in the 
southeast part of Milford, and became one of the first permanent 
settlers of northern West Dunstable. His name appears on a 
petition of the inhabitants of Monson to the General Court of 
New Hampshire of May 1747, asking for a scout or guard of 
fifteen men to protect them against Indian invasion. 

He served the town of IMonson as one of their selectmen 
for 1748 and 1749. In 1749 he moved to near Patch corner, 
Hollis. His children were : 

Margaret, born in Reading, October 12, 1717; Mary, born 
September 5, 1719, married Jonathan Pool in 1741 ; Samuel, 
Jr., born September 9, 1721, married Love Wheeler, November 
25, 1746. She died August 15, 1775. He then married for his 
second wife, a widow, Amy Morse Wheeler, April 7, 1779. 
Abraham, born August 15, 1723, married Elizabeth Hastings, 
January 30, 1745. She died January 26, 1792. He married for 
his second wife Olive Jaquith, July 12, 1792. Elizabeth, born 
in 1725, married Lieut. Robert Colburn, March 2, 1745, died 
in 1746 ; Nathaniel, born in 1727, supposed to have died young, 
no record; Sarah, born in West Dunstable, December 5, 1737, 
married James Fisk, January 22, 1771, who died in service May 
29, 1775 at Cambridge. She married for a second husband 
David Truell of Amherst, April 1780, 



Mr. Leeman died January 27, 1756, aged 64 years. Mrs. 
Leeman died March 15, 1760, aged 64 years. This family 
resided south of Patch corner, where Fred B. Wheeler now 
lives (1913). 



16 



SAMUEL LEEMAN, Junior. 



Samuel Leeman, Jumior, son of Samuel Leeman, Senior, 
and Mary Bryant Leeman, born in Lynnfield, Mass., September 
9, 1721, married Love Wheeler, daughter of Peter Wheeler, 
November 25, 1746. Engaged in clearing the forest and farm- 
ing in Monson, Lyndeboro and elsewhere, where he resided. 
Removed with his father to Patch corner, Hollis, in 17-19, where 
he remained until after the death of his father and mother. 
In 1761, or 1762, he settled at North Hollis on Witch brook, at 
the Spalding place and was the first permanent settler here. He 
purchased the east half of the old Spalding place under the 
date of November, 1768. He built the house in the old orchard, 
removed to near the John Sheed place in April, 1775. 

His wife, Love Wheeler, died August 15, 1775. He mar- 
ried for his second wife, Mrs. Amy Morse iWheeler, widow of 
Daniel Wheeler, and went to reside with her at Patch corner. 

Mr. Leeman was always in limited circumstances. Work 
?nd he had a falling out several years before he died. His 
children were: Mehitable, born in Monson, September 26, 1747, 
married Joshua Stiles, October 7, 1773, residence Lyndeborough ; 
Samuel, 3rd, born in Hollis, August 7, 1749, killed at battle of 
Saratoga, October 10, 1777; Hannah, born in Hollis, October 
15, 1751, died December 28, 1751; Love, born November 1, 
1752, married Abraham Dinsmore, Jr., November 26, 1776, 
residence Temple; ]\lary, born November 9, 1754, married 
Zachariah Emery, June 25, 1778, residence Mason, N. H. ; 

Hannah, born July 2, 1757, married Joshua Stiles, 

residence Lyndeborough; Nathaniel, born August 6, 1759, mar- 
ried Peggy 1781, residence Lyndeborough and Hollis; 

Lydia, born in Monson, December 9, 1761, married Stephen 
Lowell, Jr., December 12, 1782, residence Dunstable ; Sarah, 
born at Spalding place August 31, 1764, no record; Abraham, 
born in Spalding place. May 13, 1769, died young. 

Mr. Leeman died at Patch corner in 1789. Mrs. Amy, his 
wife, went to Concord, N. H., to reside with her son. She died 
November 30, 1821. Mr. Leeman was a great storyteller. 



17 

ABRAHAM LEEMAN. 

Abraham Leeman, son of Samuel and Mary Bryant Lee- 
m.an, born in Reading, Mass., August 15, 1723, came to Souhe- 
gan West with his father in fall of 1735 and to West Dunstable 
in the spring of 1737. He married EHzabeth Hastings, January 
30, 1745, and settled at what is known as the William Kittredge 
place on Witch brook at North HolHs, and engaged in farming. 
He became a noted bear hunter. He was a very eccentric man. 
At times he would leave the field where he was at work 
and run to the house for fear that he w'ouldn't live to 
get there. Then again he would get up in the night time 
and fry salt pork for fear he wouldn't live to eat it up. 
The spring of 179-1: was a very early one. At the 19th 
of May there came a great frost, taking everything level 
with the ground. Corn was four inches, apples were as large 
as walnuts. This discouraged Mr. Leeman and he was induced 
to exchange real and personal estate with William Kittredge of 
Gofifstown in the fall of 179-i, residing here until in old age, 
when he lived with relatives in Mont Vernon. His children 
were : 

Elizabeth, born in Monson, February 24, 1747, married 
David Wallingsford, March 6, 1767. He died March 12, 1791. 
She married for her second husband, Nehemiah Barker, IMarch 
17, 1799, died August 4, 1822. Mary, born June 3, 1748; 
Abraham, born August 29, 1749, died same day ; Hannah, born 
July 26, 1750, died December 24, 1750; Hannah, born October 
1, 1751, married Jonathan Danforth in 1769, residence at Ken- 
dall Mills; Submit, born June 4, 1753, no record; Abraham, 
born September 8, 1754, died November 29, 1759 ; Esther, born 
August 8, 1756, married Zebulon Cram, December 30, 1783, 
residence Wilton, and Andover, Vt. ; Abigail, born May 8, 1758, 
married Joseph Frost, July 28, 1785, residence Tewksbury ; died 
July 21, 1786; Dorcas, born July 13, 1760, drowned in Witch 
brook at Kendall mills. May 26, 1778. 



18 

Mrs. Leeman died January 26, 1792. Mr. Leeman married 
for his second wife, Olive Davis Jaquith, July 12, 1792, wife of 
Adford Jaquith of Dunstable, whom she married November 14, 
1776. He died in Mont Vernon. 



19 

Ensign SAMUEL LEEMAN, 3rd. 

Samuel Leeman, 3rd, son of Samuel and Love Wheeler 
Leenian, born in Hollis, August 7, 1749. He purchased part 
of the Spalding place in North Hollis under date of November 

18, 1773, intending to marry and settle here. But before he w^as 
to marry, his intended died suddenly. He then sold the place 
♦:o Jonathan Spalding, January 5, 1775. He joined the Hollis 
minutemen, repaired to Hollis common at the alarm of April 

19, 1775. He was in Captain Dow's company for Concord and 
Lexington ; was at the Battle of Bunl-:er Hill in the company 
of Capt. Levi Spalding, regiment of Col. James Reid. 

At the re-organization of the militia April 7, 1777, he en- 
listed in Capt. Isaac Fry's company, regiment of Col. Alexander 
Scammel as ensign and participated in all those battles against 
Gen. John Burgoyne, known as the northern campaign. He was 
killed at the battle of Saratoga in October, 1777. He was 28 
years old and unmarried, the last of the Samuel Leemans and 
was said to be the tenth in descent wherein the eldest son was 
named Samuel. 

Mr. Leeman purchased the Spalding place of his father. 
The writer of this has in his possession the old deed which 
Mr. Leeman gave to Jonathan Spalding, dated January 25, 1775. 



20 

NATHANIEL LEEMAN. 

Nathaniel Leeman, son of Samuel, Junior, and Love 
Wheeler Leeman, born in Hollis, Aug-ust 6, 1759, In his youth, 
residing with his father, he worked at farming, etc. He served 
in the war of the Revolution. In the Ticonderoga alarm, he 
was at the battle of White Plains, belonging to the Hollis min- 
ute men. Mr. Leeman married Peggy in 1781, settled 

in Lyndeborough, N. H., until the spring of 1786. He then 
returned to Hollis. He, with his wife and family, were warned 
out of town by the selectmen in the fall of 1786, as coming last 
from Lyndeborough. 

Mr. Leeman is recorded in the town records as retracting 
a slander on Benjamin Cummings, Jr., dated February 1, 1788. 
He again removed to Lyndeborough in 1799. He resided, while 
living in Hollis, on the old road leading from Hollis village to 
Patch corner, at a point east from Long pond, and south of the 
Esquire Wright place. 

Tradition says that he had children as follows : Peggy, 
bom in Lyndeborough in 1781 ; Fanny, born in Lyndeborough 

in 1783 ; Nathaniel, born in 1785. Mr. Leeman must 

have been broken up as he returned to Hollis prior to 1818, 
always in limited circumstances. He remained a town charge 
for several years, previous to his death, which occurred at the 
town farm in June, 1838, age 79. Supposed to be buried in 
East yard. He was the last of the Leemans to reside in Hollis. 



21 

THOMAS NEVINS, Senior. 

Thomas Nevins, of Scotch-Irish descent, whose ancestors 

fought at the siege of Londonderry, married Margaret 

about 1710. They migrated from the North of Ireland in 1711, 
and settled in Nova Scotia. Some time between the years of 1718 
and 1735, Mr. Nevins had occasion to return to Ireland on busi- 
ness. The ship on which he sailed was lost at sea and all on 
board perished. 

The widow, Margaret Nevins, with her three sons, removed 
to Newton, Mass., prior to 1735, as on July 27, 1735, they pur- 
chased land in West Dunstable of Joseph Blanchard, situated 
in what was afterwards Monson village, and removed here 
some time between 1735 and the spring of 1738. 

All that is known of Mr. Nevins' family is as follows: 
Thomas, Jr., born on the Atlantic Ocean, March, 1711; mar- 
ried Bridget Snow, January 1, 1745 ; died at Hanover, N. Y., 
in March, 1804, age 93. David, born at Nova Scotia, about 1814, 
married Lois Patch, March 3, 1746; died in Plymouth, N. H., 
in 1779. William, born in Nova Scotia, in 1718, married Mary 
Hastings, November 8, 1746. The widow, Margaret Nevins, 
with her three sons, engaged in clearing off the forests, build- 
ing log huts, making paths, etc. She is taxed regularly until 
1743, at which time her name disappears from the records, and 
we have no further knowledge of her. 



23 

Deacon THOMAS NEVINS, Junior. 

Thomas Nevins, Jr., son of Thomas and Margaret Nevins, 
born on the Atlantic Ocean, March, Ivll. Mr. Nevins came 
to Nova Scotia with his parents, and subsequently to Newton 
with his mother, and removed to West Dunstable, at Monson 
village, prior to 1738. He married Bridget Snow of Notting- 
ham West, January 1, 1745. 

Mr. Nevins served in the old French war as a sergeant in 
Capt. Nehemiah Lovewell's company, Colonel Hart's regiment 
1758, and a selectman of Monson in 1759. He removed to 
the east part of Monson prior to 1758 ; came within the limits 
of Hollis in 1770; removed to Hebron in 1772; served as jury- 
man at the County Court held in Amherst in January, 1772. 
His name is attached to a remonstrance against a petition to 
annex the Easterly side of Cockermouth to Plymouth. Late in 
life, he removed to Hanover, N. H., or near there, where he 
resided the remainder of his days. His children as found re- 
corded were: Bridget, born in Monson, December 21, 1746; 
married John Jaquith, May 30, 1770 ; residence, Groton, N. H. 
Thomas, 3rd, born in Monson, May 35, 1748 ; married Rebecca 
Willoughby in 1770 ; residence, Hanover, N. Y. Henry, born 
in Monson in 1750, died same year. Lucy, born in Monson in 
1752 ; married Jeremiah Blodgett, April 15, 1774 ; residence 
Plymouth, N. H., died July 1, 1804. Thomasin, born in Mon- 
son in 1754; married John Calf, November 13, 1776; residence 
Plymouth. She married for second husband, Sylvester Wood- 
worth; died in 1829. Hannah, born in Monson, 1756; mar- 
ried Henry Phelps, ; residence Groton, N. H. ; died 

in 1806. Sarah, born in Monson, February 15, 1759 ; married 
Nathaniel Ball in 1774 ; residence Hebron ; died August 8, 1843. 
Fanny, born in Monson in 1761; married Simeon Bridgeman; 
residence Dorchester, Mass. 

Mr. Nevins resided at the Leonard Farley place from 1758 
to 1772. He died in Hanover, N. Y., March, 1804, age 93. 



23 

DAVID NEVINS. 

David Nevins, son of Thomas and Margaret Nevins, was 
born in Nova vScotia in 1714. He went with his mother to 
Newton, Mass., and later came to West Dunstable with the 
other members of the family. He learned the carpenter's trade, 
and helped to build the two first meeting houses in West Dun- 
stable. He married Lois Patch, daughter of Isaac Patch, of 
Groton, Mass., March 3, 1746, and settled in Hollis on the old 
path east of Long Pond, where he resided until 1764, when 
he removed to the west part of Plymouth, N. H. 

Mr. Nevins served in the war of the revolution from Ply- 
mouth, in the company of Capt. Edward Everett, Colonel 
Bedel's regiment, in 1776. He enlisted into the Continental 
service, March 21, 1777, and was reported dead the next year; 
this was a mistake. His children, as follows, were all born 
in Hollis: John, born October 12, 1748; died August 25, 1752. 
Lois, born October 20, 1749; died September 5, 1752. Mar- 
garet, born February 3, 1752 ; married Samuel Phelps, June 6, 
1781 ; residence Hebron. Lois, born September 16, 1753 ; mar- 
ried Joseph Ryan, April 8, 1798 ; residence Hebron. John, bom 
April 18, 1755; married Hepsibah Hobart, October 31, 1782; 
residence, Danville, Vt. David, born July 7, 1758 ; served in 
the Revolution; died unmarried in 1783. Mr. Nevins died in 
Plymouth in February, 1778. His wife died in Plymouth in 
1782. 



24 

WILLIAM NEVINS, Senior. 

William Nevins, Sr., son of Thomas and Margaret Nevins, 
born in Nova Scotia in 1718. He came to Newton, and later 
to West Dunstable with his mother. He was engaged in sub- 
duing the forests, making paths, fighting wild men and wild 
beasts. There is a well authenticated tradition that he married 
Mary Woolerich, daughter of Phillip Woolerich, prior to 1745 ; 
that she died in the summer of 1746 ; and he married Mary 
Hastings, November 8, 174G, for his second wife. He settled 
first at Monson center, but removed to the Major James Wlieeler 
place, near Pennichuck pond, in the east part of Monson, but 
coming into Hollis on the division of Monson. He was a man 
of considerable influence in town affairs, having served the 
town twenty-seven times as moderator, and having been one of 
the selectmen for sixteen years. 

His children were : William, Jr., born in Monson, July 
26, 1746; married Rebecca Chamberlain, March 24, 1768; res- 
idence Plymouth. Joseph, born in Monson, July 20, 1748; 
married first, Sarah Powers, February 20, 1772 ; married for 
second wife, Lucy Sawtell, in 1783. Benjamin, born in Mon- 
son, August 15, 1750; married Annis Mooar, February 9, 1775; 
he went to Maine. Mary, born August 2, 1752 ; married Tim- 
othy Wheeler, September 8, 1773 ; residence Amherst. John, 
born February 26, 1755; married Mary Hazeltine, April 17, 
1782; residence Groton, N. H. Phineas, born February 26, 
1758. He was killed at the Battle of "Bunker Hill," June 17, 
1775. Lydia, born July 16, 1760; married Daniel Mooar, Jr., 
in 1780; residence in Hollis. Elizabeth, born October 17, 1762; 
married William Brown in 1789 ; residence in Hollis. Rebecca, 
born July 1, 1765 ; married Joseph Lakeman, December 24, 
1788; residence Amherst; died July 9, 1844. Nathan, born 
February 28, 1770; married Mary , June 1791; resi- 
dence Groton; died in 1798. 



25 



Mr. Nevins died February 15, 1785, age 67. Mrs. Nevins 
died in the fall of 1792; no grave stone. Five of Mr. Nevins' 
sons served in the war of the Revolution. 



26 

Lieutenant WILLIAM NEVINS, Junior. 

Lieutenant William Nevins, Jr., son of William and Mary 
Nevins, was born in Monson, July 26, 1746. He resided with 
his father, helping him on the farm as was the custom. He 
married Rebecca Chamberlain, March 24, 1768, and shortly 
afterward settled in Plymouth, N. H., where his children were 
born, as follows : Rebecca, born December, 1768 ; married first, 
Gilson, and second, Leonard Whiting, March 13, 1800 ; died 
January 9, 1857. Hannah, born in 1770; married Joshua Thorn- 
ton, November 24, 1790 ; residence Plymouth ; died October 2, 
1828. William, born in 1773; was a school teacher; he died 
unmarried, December 29, 1810. Susannah, born December 2, 
1776; married Moses George, March 25, 1800 ;residence Ply- 
mouth. He died March 9, 1841. Mr. Nevins joined the Hollis 
minute men in 1775. He was at work prying stone on his 
father's farm on the afternoon of April 19, 1775. On receiving 
word that the British were marching to Concord and Lexing- 
ton, he immediately joined his comrades on Hollis Common, 
helped to choose Reuben Dow captain, and proceeded to Cam- 
bridge. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and remained 
in the army eight months. Enlisted into the Continental army, 
April, 1776, for one year as second lieutenant in Capt. John 
House's company 6th of the First N. H. Regiment, under com- 
mand of Col. Joseph Cilley, and while on duty at the battle of 
White Plains, was taken prisoner, and put in a British prison 
ship, where he died in October, 1776. 

His widow continued her residence at Plymouth. Mr. 
Nevins was one of the selectmen of Plymouth for the years 
1770 and 1771. 



27 

JOSEPH NEVINS. 

Joseph Nevins, son of William and Mary Hastings Nevms, 
was born in Monson, July 20, 1748 ; married first, Sarah 
Powers, February 20, 1772. She died June 27, 1781. He 
married for second wife, Lucy Sawtelle, January, 1783. He 
succeeded tO' the homestead in Hollis. His children were : 
Sarah, born December 3, 1772 ; died young. Joseph, born June 
20, died young. Phineas, born May 5, 1776 ; residence Bed- 
ford ; died March, 1851. Sarah, born December 17, 1777; mar- 
ried Israel Thomas, September 13, 1814; residence Amherst. 
Plannah, born June 13, 1779 ; married Josiah Kidder, December 
19, 1809 ; residence Amherst. Hepzibah, born June 6, 1781. 
Lucy, born December 30, 1783. Mary, born July 4, 1786; 
married Daniel Mooar, March 16, 1808. Anna, born March 
23, 1789; married John French, March 14, 1810; residence 
Bedford. Gardner, born February 18, 1792; died young. 
Pamelia, born March 16, 1794. Gardner, born February 6, 
1797; married Esther R. Barnes, January 25, 1825; residence 
Bedford; died October 16, 1876. Susan, born April 12, 179!); 
married Otis Sheppard, March 12, 1818 ; residence Bedford 
Joseph, born April 8, 1801 ; died unmarried in Bedford, N. H., 
December 2, 1830. 

Joseph Nevins ser\'ed in the war of the Revolution. Mr. 
Nevins' political views were extremely radical and Federal, 
and was very bitter against Jefferson, and said if he was elected 
President, the Bibles would all be destroyed, and the churches 
would all be burned; and he said that Jefferson was an infidel, 
etc. Mr. Nevins died of sun stroke in Capt. Isaac Parker's 
meadow, August 11, 1813. This family of Nevins was the last 
of Nevins to leave town, about 1825. Most of them went 
to Bedford, N. H. 



28 

BENJAMIN NEVINS. 

Benjamin Nevins, son of William and Mary Hastings 
Nevins, was born in Monson, August 15, 1750. He married 
Annis Mooar, February 9, 1775. He resided in several places 
in Hollis and Milford, namely southeast of the "Taylor Dunck- 
lee Mill place," on Mooar's hill," and at Monson village place. 

Mr. Nevins served in the war of the Revolution; was at 
Lexington and battle of Bennington. In all he was out about 
six months. Mr. Nevins worked some at the butchering busi- 
ness. He used to go amongst the fanners killing hogs. He 
was somewhat addicted to drink ; it was said that he could 
drink more cider than any man living. The following story is 
told of him, that while he was returning from Amherst, where 
he had bought a jug each of molasses and rum, and according 
to the custom of those days, he carried his purchases in a bag 
thrown across the horse in front of the saddle, on crossing a 
brook, the horse lowered his head to drink, and quickly the 
rum and molasses were dashed upon the rocks. The stream 
has been called Taddy Brook from that day to this. 

His children were: Betty, born December 7, 1775. Ben- 
jamin, Jr., born October 5, 1777 ; married . Lydia, 

born April 7, 1780. Sarah, born May 25, 1782 ; married Thomas 
W. Steams, September 6, 1814. William, born March 5, 1786. 
This family removed to Maine about 1820. 



29 

MOSES SAUNDERS. 

Moses Saunders, a connection of Elijah Saunders, the 
beggar. A native of Marlborough, Mass., where he came from 
in the spring of 1738, and settled in West Dunstable at the 
Bailey place ; commenced a clearing, built his log hut, erected 
a saw mill soon after, which was the first saw mill built in 
West Dunstable. It was said that the lumber for the first meet- 
ing house was sawed at Mr. Saunders' mill. At the time of 
the Indian war in 1747, Mr. Saunders thought he saw Indians 
lurking about his mill. As Dr. Belknap said, "they wished to 
destroy every mill and its owner," whom they charged with 
destroying their hunting grounds, Mr. Saunders became alarmed 
for his personal safety and removed to Westboro, Mass., where 
he bought a large farm, and resided there the remainder of his 
days. His West Dunstable estate, after a few years, passed 
into the hands of Daniel Bailey. 

His children, as found recorded in the Monson records, 
were as follows : All born in West Dunstable. Abigail, born 
May 7, 1741. Sarah, born September 7, 1742. Moses, born 
April 23, 1744. Stephen, born January 16, 1746. 



30 

ELIAS SMITH. 

Elias Smith, son of Deacon Francis and Ruth Maverick 
Smith, was born in South Reading, Mass., in 1698. He mar- 
ried Ehzabeth Emerson, sister of the Rev. Daniel Emerson, 
pastor of the first church in West Dunstable, December 31, 
1724, residing in Reading, and Salisbury, Mass., until about 
1744, when he removed to West Dunstable, and probably was 
the first settler at the Price place, situated on the street west 
of the meeting house. 

He became the village blacksmith, as tradition says he had 
a blacksmith shop here. He was a large land holder, owning 
several hundred acres in the west part of Hollis, of which a 
large portion was transmitted to his daughter Elizabeth, who 
married Lieut. Robert Colburn. Mr. Smith was chosen treas- 
urere of the church in 1745 ; appointed Pound Keeper in 1746, 
and Constable in 1747 ; elected one of the selectmen in 1748. 
He served in the old French war as sergeant in Col. Joseph 
Blanchard's regiment. Co. 9, Capt. Nathaniel Folsom command- 
ing, in the Crown Point expedition of 1755. His children, so 
far as found available, were : Elizabeth, bom in Reading in 
1725; married Robert Colburn, March 21, 1747. Mary, born 
in Reading in 1737 ; died August 22, 1761, age 24 years. Anna, 
born in Reading in 1740; died August 20, 1761. age 21 years. 

Mr. Elias Smith died August 29 1761, in the 64th year of 
his age. Mrs. Elizabeth, his wife, died March 23, 1775, in the 
76th year of her age. Moses Smith, son of Elias Smith, was 
born in 1730 ; married Mary Boynton, January 29, 1756 ; re- 
sided in Hollis; died August 25, 1761, age 31, leaving a son, 
Moses, born in 1761, who was dissipated. 



31 

ABRAHAM DINSMORE, Sr. 

Abraham Dinsmore, Sr,, son of Thomas and Hannah Dins- 
more, was born in Bedford, Mass., February 22, 1730. He came 
to West Dunstable with his father, helped to subdue the for- 
ests, and worked on the farm. He married Lydia in 

1752, and settled at the homestead until about 1765, when he 
lemoved to Temple, N. H., and settled on one of those moun- 
tain farms. 

Mr. Dinsmore served in the war of the Revolution, and 
was in the battle of Bunker Hill in Capt. Ezra Townes' com- 
pany. Col. James Reed's regiment, together with eighteen other 
Temple soldiers, including Wilder Kidder, the famous fifer. 
His children as found recorded were: Abraham, Jr., born in 
HoUis, January 17, 1753; married Love Leeman, November 
26, 1776. Zebadiah, born in Hollis, January 17, 1755 ; married 
Elizabeth Todd, March 13, 1777 ; residence Temple. Lydia, 
born in Hollis, January 24, 1757. Hannah, born in Hollis, 
March 2, 1759. Phebe, born in Hollis, May 17, 1761. Thomas, 
born in Hollis, August 14, 1763. John, born in Temple, Novem- 
ber 23, 1765. Amos, born in Temple, February 29, 1768 ; mar- 
ried Mrs. Rachel Stone, January 5, 1794; residence Temple. 
Abel, born in Temple, June 4, 1770. Mary, born in Temple, 
August 16, 1772 •, married Asa Severance, November 25, 1788; 
residence Temple. 

Mrs. Lydia, wife of Abraham, died September 13, 1774. 
Mr. Dinsmore died in Temple, 



32 

WILLIAM SEARLE, Jr. 

William Searle, a son of William Searle, was bom in By- 
field, Mass., in 1723. He came to West Dunstable with his 
father prior to 1740, who settled near to what is know as "But- 
terfield Hill." William Searle, Jr., married Hannah Dinsmore, 
August 6, 1747. She was the oldest daughter of Thomas Dins- 
more, He settled in the extreme south part of the town, re- 
siding here until about 1769, when he removed to Temple, 
N, H., settling toward the south part of the town. Mr. Searle 
was a shoemaker by trade, presumably taking his bench and 
tools, and going from house to house doing cobbler's work, as 
was then the custom. 

There is an account of a sad story connected with t!he 
history of Mr. Searle's family ; that on the afternoon of August 
15, 1777, during a violent thunder storm, the lightning struck 
the house and killed two of his children, viz' Jonathan, aged 
12 years, and Hannah, aged 10. They were buried in one 
grave the next day. Mr. Searle's children were: Elizabeth, 
born in Hollis, July 16, 1748 ; married Obediah Eastman, Feb- 
ruary 8, 1774. William, born in Hollis, March 22, 1750; mar- 
ried Eleanor Straw in 1777 ; residence Temple ; died April 22, 
1813. Hannah, born in Hollis, April 19, 1752 ; died young. 

Joseph, born in Hollis, May 13, 1755 ; married Persis 

about 1777; residence Temple. Sarah, born in Hollis, January 
7, 1758. Mary, born in Hollis, March 18, 1760. John, born 
in Hollis, August 6, 1762. Jonathan, born in Hollis, May 29, 
1765 ; killed by lightning at his home in Temple, August 15, 
1777. Hannah, born in Hollis, June 11, 1767 ; killed by light- 
ning at her home in Temple, August 15, 1777. Lucy, born in 
Hollis, August 26, 1769 ; she was saved from being killed by 
the lightning at her home in Temple, August 15, 1777. She 
married Silas Durkee, July 12, 1785 ; residence Temple. Mr. 
Searle served as one of the selectmen in 1782. Lucy stood 
between Jonathan and Hannah when the lightning struck and 
escaped unharmed. 



33 

ZEDEKIAH DRURY. 

Zedekiah Drury came to West Dunstable in 1741, and 
located in what is now the south part of Hollis, on the farm 
now (1909) owned and occupied by Frank B. Spaulding. Mr. 
Drury was a blacksmith by trade. He was also engaged in 
farming while here. He removed to Temple, N. H., prior to 
1768, as the first town meeting was held there at his house, 
September 26, 1768. He was chosen moderator at the annual 
town meeting of 1773. 

January 7, 1776, Mr. Drury, with fifteen other Temple 
soldiers, enlisted into the Continental army for one year. He 
died in the service, it was said, from malaria fever, which pre- 
vailed in August of that year. As found in the records, the 

following are his children: Capt. Zedekiah, Jr., born , 

Ebenezer, born ; married Marian , Captain 

Gersham, born — ; married first, Mary Hawkins, June 

11, 1783, second, he married Eliza Richards ; died December 

1, 1793. William, born ; married Elizabeth . 

Daniel . Thomas . Mary ; married 

John Tenny, July 14, 1773. 



34 

WILLIAM COLBURN, Senior. 

William Colburn, son of Robert Colburn, was born in 
Dracut, Mass., in December, 1689 ; married Margaret Woolley, 
February' 29, 1715, and settled on the old French garrison farm 
in Billerica, Mass., which came within the limits of Bedford, 
Mass., on the chartering of that town in 1729. Mr. Colburn, 
with others, removed from Bedford to West Dunstable in the 
spring of 1738, and settled at a point on the hill, north of Patch 
Corner, where he erected a large log hut, used a portion of 
the year of 1747 as a garrison by a scout or guard of fifteen 
men sent by the New Hampshire General Court to guard the 
inhabitants of Monson against Indian invasion, Mr. Colburn 
Was the ancestor of nearly all the Colburns of Hollis. 

His children were as follows: Lieutenant Robert, born in 
Billerica in 1717; married first, Elizabeth Leeman, March 2, 
1745, who died in 1746 ; married second, Elizabeth Smith, 
March 21, 1747. Keziah, born in Billerica in 1721; married 
Jonathan Taylor, October 27, 1747. Jemima, born in Billerica 
in 1724; no record. William, Jr., born in Billerica in 1726; 
married Abigail Wheeler, July 26, 1757 ; died February 7, 1776. 

Mr. Colburn died April 3, 1769, aged 79. Mrs. Marger}^ 
his wife, died February 16, 1774, aged 84. They are buried at 
the northeast corner of the old Church yard at Hollis. Some 
of the Colburns landed in Ipswich, Mass. Edward Colburn 
went from Ipswich to Dracut, about 1655. 



35 

JAMES WHEELER, Senior. 

James Wheeler, Sr., son of George and Abrigail Hosmer 
Wheeler, was born in Concord, Mass., September 5, 1702. He 
married Mary Minot in 1725, and settled in Concord upon the 
chartering of Bedford in 1729. He came within the limits of 
that town without a change of residence. In the spring of 1738, 
Mr. Wheeler came from Bedford to West Dunstable with Mr. 
Colburn and others, and located about half a mile east of Patch 
Corner, at a place since know as the Benjamin Wheeler place. 
He became a prominent citizen in the new settlement. His 
name is the first name on a petition dated May 13, 1747, to 
the General Court of New Hampshire, asking for a scout to 
guard the inhabitants of Monson against Indian invasion. Mr. 
Wheeler served in the old French war in Capt. Peter Powers' 
company for the Crown Point expedition of 1755, from April 
24 to November 11. He became a large land holder. 

His children were: Mary, born- in Concord, October 11, 
1725. Keziah, born in Concord, March 10, 1727 ; married John 
Brown, October 9, 1744; died October 31, 1760. Lydia, born 
in Concord, March 11, 1729 ; no record. James, Jr., born in 
Bedford, May 6, 1731; married Mary Butterfield, November 
1, 1750. Elizabeth, born in Bedford, May 23, 1734. Daniel, 
bom in Bedford, April 23, 1736; married Amy Morse, Feb- 
ruary 1, 1757; died in 1774 or 1775. Azubah, born in Bedford, 
October 29, 1738; married John Willoughby, Jr., May 30, 1758; 
residence Plymouth. Thaddeus, born in Bedford, December 
16, 1742; married Elizabeth Farmer, October 17, 1769; resi- 
dence on homestead. 

Mr. James fWheeler died in 1766, leaving the homestead to 
his son, Thaddeus. Mrs. Mary, his wife, was living at the 
close of the Revolution in 1783. 



36 

PETER WHEELER, Senior. 

Peter Wheeler, Senior, son of George and Abigail Hosmer 
Wheeler, was born in Concord, Mass., October 23, ITO-t ; married 
Hannah Colburn in 1725, and settled in Concord, but came 
within the limits of Bedford in 1729. He removed to West 
Dunstable in the spring of 1738, and settled on the hill west of 
Long pond, where his descendants have resided until within a 
few years. ]\Ir. Wheeler was famous for hunting wild animals, 
killing as many as three bears in one night. He served in the 
old French War in Capt. Peter Powers' company, in the Crown 
Point expedition of 1755, 

His children as found recorded were: Love, born in Con- 
cord, May 10, 1728 ; married Samuel Leeman, November 25, 
1746; died August 15, 1775. Peter, Jr., born in Concord in 
1730; married IMehitable Jewett, Mrach 19, 1751; residence 
Temple, N. H. Hannah, born in Concord in 1734, no record. 
Mary, born in 1736 ; married Samuel Brown, Jr., Januar}^ 22, 
1761; residence Mason, N. H. Betty, born in 1738; married 

November 6, 176 — ; residence Hollis ; died 

Sally, bom in West Dunstable in 1740, no record. Lucy, born 
in West Dunstable, June 1, 1774 ; married Silas Brown, Octo- 
ber 8, 1765 ; residence Plymouth, N. H. Alice, born in West 
Dunstable, December 1, 1745; married Ephraim Lund. J\Iay 
12, 1772 ; residence Hollis. Ebenezer, born in Hollis, July 15, 
1748 ; married Azubah Taylor, July 13, 1780 ; residence home- 
stead. Lebbens. born in Hollis, October 15, 1750; married 
Elizabeth Carter, March 1, 1773 ; died in service, 1778. Jemima, 
born in Hollis, Augiist 15, 1756 ; married Samuel Hill, May 
31, 1780. 

Mrs. Hannah, wife of Peter Wheeler, died October 18, 
1764, age 56. Mr. Wheeler died at homestead, March 28, 1772, 
asfed 68. 



37 

JOHN MARTIN, Senior. 

John Martin, who came from Billerica, Mass., in the spring 
of 1738, with those other settlers to West Dunstable, and located 
east of Patch Corner, at a place known as Martin's pasture. 
There is a tradition that a Martin and a Wheeler came over 
from England in the same ship, and that during the voyage, a 
Martin fell overboard and a Wheeler rescued him. They 
agreed that wherever a Wheeler went, that a Martin should go, 
and John Martin came at the same time and settled not forty 
rods from James Wheeler, Mr, Martin and his son John served 
in the old French War in Captain Powers' company for the 
Crown Point expedition in 1755. That on one occasion they 
gained permission of their captain to go to another regiment 
and participate in a hard fought battle. They ran three miles 
to be in the battle. They had a presentment that no bullet was 
ever made to kill them. They were in many battles and never 
received a wound. 

His children were : Abigail, born in 1739 ; married Ephraim 

Ramsdell, January 21, 1758. John, Jr., born in 17-11 ; 

Rachel, born May 11, 1743; Joseph, born June 21, 

1750; 

Mr, Martin removed to Bedford, N. H., before the Revo- 
lution. John Martin's wife's given name was Rachel, 



38 

THOMAS WOOLEY. 

Thomas Wooley, son of Samuel Wooley, was born in Bed- 
ford, Mass., about 1732. He came from Bedford to West Dun- 
stable with Mr. Colburn and others in the spring of 1738, bring- 
ing their entire effects in an ox cart, plodding their way through 
the Dunstable wilderness, guided only by marked trees. 

He married Mary Williams of Hollis, March 7, 1742, and 
settled at Patch Corner. Mr, Wooley was one of those who 
helped to subdue the forests in the vicinity in which he lived. 
He built a log hut and commenced farming for a living as 
did most people of those days. He was a brother of Margaret 
Wooley, the wife of William Colburn. 

Mr. Wooley removed to Richmond, N. H., in 1765. It is 
reported he had a daughter, Sarah, who married Reuben Par- 
ker, June 19, 1759, and a sister, Rebecca Wooley, who married 
Edmond Gardner of Northfield, November 16, 1772. We 
have no further record of Thomas Wooley. 

Mrs. Sarah Wooley Parker died in Richmond, N. H., 
December 20, 1779. 



39 

PHILIP WOOLRICH. 

Philip Woolrich, one of those Scotch-Irish emigrants, who 
came to this country early in the eighteenth century, whose 
ancestors fought at the siege of Londonderry, was born in 

Ireland about 1683. He married Lydia about 1711, 

and migrated to Nova Scotia, with the Nevins family, of whom 
it w'as said, they were connected. Mr, Woolrich later settled in 
Concord, Mass., and came within the limits of Bedford, from 
which place he removed with those other families in the spring 
of 1T38 to West Dunstable, and settled near Patch Corner, 
remaining here only a short time, when he removed to a farm 
southwest of Peter Powers, since known as the Little place. 
His name disappears from the records here after 1743. It ap- 
pears by Fox's history of Dunstable, page 234, that he resided 
in Dunstable many years ; probably died there prior to 1763. 

Of his children, little is known. Probably they were born 
in Concord or Bedford, Mass. If those records were available 
they might disclose some data. There is a record of Philip, Jr., 
born about 1713 ; married Lydia Adams of Westford, Mass., 
December 2, 1736. There is a tradition that Mary Woolrich 
married William Nevins in 1745. In 1789, Widow Lydia Wool- 
rich died, aged 104 years and 4 months. She was at hte time 
of her death, and had been for a time, residing with Joseph 
Nevins in Hollis. They called her Granny Ulrich; all this 
would go to show that the two families were connected. This 
family's name was written several different ways. 



40 

ISRAEL MEAD. 

Israel Mead, one of those early settlers of Monson, N. H., 

who married Sarah prior to coming to Monson in 

1753. He settled on Witch Brook at North Hollis at the Enoch 
Farley place. 

Mr. Mead was a brickmaker by trade, the first one of this 
section. He was engaged in the manufacture of bricks while 
living at the Farley place, was taxed in Monson until 1758, 
when it appears by the records, he removed to Hollis Center, to 
a point south of the Peter Powers' house, where he continued 
the manufacture of bricks. There are bricks now in the chimney 
of the Capt. William Hale house, and others, made by Israel 
Mead. 

Mr. Mead is taxed in Hollis until 1775, when he died, and 
the property was taxed to Mrs. Sarah Mead from that date 
until 1780. After that date her name disappears from the rec- 
ords ; presumably she went to Orford, as probably her daughter, 
Mary Mead, married John Case of Orford, N. H., April 28, 
1785, and they resided in Orford. 

We have no further record of this family. 



41 

ZACHARIAH SHATTUCK. 

Zachariah Shattuck, son of William and Abigail Shattuck, 
was born in West Groton, Mass., March 6, 1724. He married 
Elizabeth Fisk, March 3, 1747, and settled in the southeast part 
of Monson, at the Jesse Hardy place. Mr. Shattuck was an- 
cestor of nearly all the Shattucks in this vicinity, and of those 
residing in the north part of Nashua, becoming a large land 
holder, cultivating those extensive pine plains, and raising large 
crops of rye. Some of his descendants became wealthy fanners. 

His children as found recorded were : Zachariah, Jr., born 
in Monson, November 24, 1747 ; married Elizabeth Farley, 
November 28, 1771 ; died January 1819. Elizabeth, born in 
Monson May 15, 1750; married Timothy Wyman, December 

17, 1772. Mary, born in Monson 1753; married 

Stephen Farley, January 28, 1779. Abigail, born in Monson, 
June 10, 1755 ; married Nathan Colburn, January 28, 1779 ; died 

March 11, 1851, age 96. Isaac, born in Monson 1757 ; 

died in the army, June 1776 ; Samuel, born in Monson 

1758 ; married Lois Wheat, May 5, 1791. Sibbel, born in Mon- 
son, March 1760 ; married Phineas Hardy, Jr. Hannah, born 

in Monson 1764; married Jacob Mooar, January 15, 

1784 ; died September 14, 1791 ; residence Hollis. Daniel, born 
in Monson, February 24, 1767 ; married Betsy Corey of Chelms- 
ford, January 8, 1793. Abel, born in Monson, June 3, 1769; 
married Sally Blood, April 16, 1795. Nathan, born in Hollis, 
June 9, 1774; married Susanna Wood, November 25, 1802. 

Mr. Shattuck died March 20, 1809, age 85 years. Mrs. 
Shattuck died November 8, 1815, age 88 years. They were 
buried in the old Church-yard at Hollis. 



42 

WILLIAM SHATTUCK. 

William Shattuck, brother of Zachariah, and son of Wil- 
liam and Abigail Shattuck, was born in Groton, Mass., January 
25, 1713. He married Ruth in 1738, and shortly set- 
tled at Brimstone Corner, east of "Flint's Hill," in West Dun- 
stable. His wife, Ruth, died November 4, 1744. He married 
for his second wife, Mrs. Experience Spalding Curtis, Novem- 
ber 26, 1745. 

Mr. Shattuck's children were as follows : Ruth, born in 
West Dunstable, November 1, 1739 ; married Robert Rankin, 
September 23, 1761. William, Jr., born in West Dunstable, 
February 26, 1741 ; married Zilpha Turner, December 2, 1761. 
Mary, born in West Dunstable, March 1, 1743 ; married Joseph 
Stearns, December 9, 1763. Nathaniel, born in West Dun- 
stable in 1746; married Eunice Hazen ; died 

April 5, 1813. Experience, born in West Dunstable in 1749 ; 
married Benjamin Simpson, August 13, 1772. Elizabeth, born 
in West Dunstable in 1751 ; married James Lakin, November 
5, 1772. Jeremiah W., born June 24, 1754; enlisted in the war 
of the Revolution ; died at Cambridge, May 29, 1775. 

Mr. Shattuck died at his home in Hollis, March 13, 1761, 
age 49. Mrs. Experience Shattuck, his widow, was living in 
1794 on the premises. 



43 

JONATHAN DANFORTH, Senior. 

Jonathan Danforth, Sr., son of Jonathan, a grandson of 
Jonathan the distinguished land surveyor, was born November 
10, 1714. He came to West Dunstbale in 1741 ; married Anna 
Blanchard, daughter of Benjamin Blanchard, May 24, 1743, 
and settled on the farm west of Cyrus F, Burge on the Depot 
road. Mr. Danforth was a descendant of Nicholas Danforth, 
who migrated to this country from England in 1632, to escape 
the knig'hthood that King Charles sought to impose upon him 
in consequence of his great wealth. 

Mr. Danforth's children were : Anna, born in West Dun- 
stable, February 7, 1744. Jonathan, Jr., born in West Dun- 
stable, July 20, 1745 ; married Hannah Leeman in 1769. David, 
bom in West Dunstable, January 24, 1747. 

Mr. Danforth died March 3, 1747, aged 32. 



44 

JONATHAN DANFORTH, Junior. 

Jonathan Danforth, Jr., son of Jonathan and Anna 
Blanchard Danforth, was born in West Dunstable, July 20, 
1745. Mr. Danforth located in Monson about 1766, and built 
a saw mill on Witch brook in company with Jonathan Lund of 
Monson. The mill stood where the dividing line came be- 
tween the Rogers and Spalding farms at North Mollis at the 
Amherst line. Subsequently, Mr. Danforth erected a house and 
grist mill at the "Kendall mill place" on Witch brook at North 
Hollis. Later he bought thirty-six acres of land of Abraham 
Leeman, where he resided the rest of his days. He occupied a 
prominent position in town, and served as moderator at some 
special meetings. He was guardian for Nathan Nevins who 
became twenty-one in 1791, and Mr. Danforth sold his property 
here to Hezekiah Kendall of Wilmington in October 1791. 

He married Hannah Leeman in 1769. His children were: 
Hannah, born May 5, 1770 ; married Jermathael Bowers, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1791. Jonathan, born July 27, 1772. Elizabeth, 
born May 10, 1774. Leonard, born April 9, 1777; married 
Polly Henry, April 23, 1801. David, born May 15, 1779. 
Luther, born October 23, 1781. Anna, born July 18, 1883. 
Asa, born October 14, 1785. Rebecca, born March 23, 1788. 

Mr. Danforth died August, 1782. Most of this family went 
to Mont Vernon, N. H. 



45 

JOHN WILLOUGHBY. 

John Willoughby, son of John Willoughby of Billerica, 
was born in Billerica, Mass., December 25, 1707. His ances- 
tors were of Scotch-Irish origin, but had resided in England 
a few generations, previous to migrating to this country. Mr. 
Willoughby married Anna Chamberlain of Billerica, March 27, 
1735, He removed to West Dunstable in 1744. He served in 
the old French war, and was a grantee of Plymouth, N. H. 
His wife, Anna, died February 3, 1773. He married for a 
second wife Elizabeth Sprage of Billerica, June 28, 1774. 

His children, taken from Willoughby records, were as 
follows: Captain John, Jr.. born in Billerica, December 24, 
1735 ; married Azubah Wheeler, May 30, 1758 ; residence 
Plymouth. Jonas, born in Billerica, March 31, 1737 ; married 
Hannah Bates, July 10, 1760; residence HolHs ; died 1791. 
Joseph, born in Billerica, February 17, 1739 ; went to Benning- 
ton, Vt. Anna, born in Billerica, May 30, 1741 ; married 
Timothy French, May 3, 1771 ; residence Hollis. Mary, born 
in Billerica, February 26, 1743 ; died in 1752. Susannah, born 
in Billerica, May 26, 1744 ; married Jonathan Powers, November 
28, 1764 ; residence Dunstable ; died September, 1828, Samuel, 
born in Billerica, February 13, 1745 ; married Elizabeth Jaquith, 
December 3, 1772 ; married second wife, Mary Gould ; died 
October 26, 1832, age 86. Mehitable, born in Billerica, August 
3, 1747; married Jonathan Bates, October 19, 1769. Rebecca, 
born in Billerica, February 13, 1749 ; married Thomas Nevins, 
Jr., in 1770 ; residence, Hebron, N. H. William, born in Bil- 
lerica, September 2, 1751 ; died in November, 1773. Elizabeth, 
born in Billerica, April 3, 1753 ; married Samuel Lovejoy, Aug- 
ust 27, 1794. Josiah, born in Billerica. July 30, 1755; died in 
1757. 

Mr. John Willoughby died February 2, 1793, aged 85. 



46 

Lieut. DAVID WALLINGSFORD. 

Lieut. David Wallingsford, son of Jonathan Wallingsford, 
was born in Bradford, Mass., September 25, 1744. A descend- 
ant of Nicholas WalHngsford, who emigrated, when a boy, in 
the ship "Confidence" from London to Boston in 1638. Lieu- 
tenant Wallingsford came to Monson in 1765. He engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. He enlisted in the war of the Revolution 
in Captain Dow's company for Concord and Lexington. He 
was at the battle of Bunker Hill; was Lieutenant of Capt. 
Archelaus Town's company at the battle of Bennington, and in 
the northern campaign, was one of the first to order his men 
at the battle of Bennington to fire on the British and Hessians. 
He was paid off in worthless Continental money at the close of 
the war. He had the misfortune to lose his house by fire. Soon 
after his return Mr. Wallingsford married Elizabeth Leeman, 
March 6, 1767. 

His children were born at homestead, situated east of Philip 
Woods. Elizabeth, born in Monson, September 14, 1767 ; 
married Aaron Bailey, May 17, 1785 ; went to New York. 
Jonathan, born in Hollis, September 10, 1770 ; went to Wiscon- 
sin ; died March, 1863. Sarah, born in HolHs, July 5, 1772; 
no record. Martha, born in Hollis, March 26, 1774; married 
John Sawtell, April 19, 1797. David, born in Hollis, November 
26, 1776; died September 27, 1777. David, born in Hollis, 
October 12, 177S ; married Abigail Stoker in 1798 ; went to 
Ohio; died in 1836. Ebenezer, born in Hollis, October 5, 1780; 
a blacksmith in Marlboro, N. H. ; married Mary Hildreth, 
October 20, 1803. Benjamin, born in Hollis, January 24, 1782 ; 
married Hannah Needham, November 19, 1807 ; died May 9, 
1818. Joel, born in Hollis, January 22, 1784; died in Clare- 

mont, N. H., in 1841. Hannah, bom in Hollis, June 

29, 1785; died in Marlboro in 1851. Mary, born in 

Hollis, October 29, 1787. Abigail, born in Hollis, January 4, 
1790. 

Mr. Wallingsford died March 12, 1791. His wife married 
Nehemiah Barker, March 17, 1799, and died August 4, 1822. 



47 

Capt. ebenezer melvin. 

Capt. Ebenezer Melvin, son of Jonathan and Sarah Hart- 
well Melvin, was born in Concord, Mass., November 10, 1725; 
married Susannah Dinsmore, daughter of Thomas Dinsmore of 
Hollis, in April, 1747, and soon after settled in Monson at a 
place now known as Melendy place, in the northeast part of 
Brookline, where Mr. Melvin built a dam, and erected a saw 
mill. Mr. Melvin was famous for hunting wild animals. He 
Was Captain of Colonial militia ; and served in the French war 
in 1757. He served the town of Monson in various ways, and 
was a prominent citizen in the new settlement. His wife, 
Susannah, died in 1765 ; he married again Mary Bailey in 1766, 
and removed to Hollis. 

His children were: Ebenezer, Jr., born in Monson, De- 
cember 28, 1752 ; married Joanna Bailey, February 20, 1777 ; 
residence, Groton, N. H. Nathan, born in Monson, November 
20, 1755. Eunice, born in Monson, February 9, 1759. Daniel, 
born in Monson, September 8, 1761. Susannah, born in Mon- 
son, October 23, 1761; married William Crawford in 1786; 
residence Plymouth. Seth, born in Hollis, April 28, 1767. 
Enoch, born in Hollis, August 20, 1769; married Mary Read, 
March 27, 1794 ; died October 27, 1824. Isaac, born in Groton, 
N. H., August 29, 1772; married Abigail Dearborn, March 27, 
1796. 

Captain Melvin witli four other families, viz: James 
Gould, James Hobart, Phineas Bennett and Samuel Farley, re- 
moved to Groton, N. H., in the spring of 1770, They were 
the first settlers there. Mr. removed to Plymouth, N. H., in 
the spring of 1790, where he died. 



48 

JONATHAN LUND, Junior. 

Jonathan Lund, son of Captain Jonathan and Jean Varnum 
Lund, was born in Dunstable, N. H., in September, 1747 ; mar- 
ried Priscilla Cummings in 1770, and settled in Monson, N. H., 
at a place since known as "Milford poor farm." He was a 
blacksmith by trade, was quite an artist, and used to manufac- 
ture mill saws. Air. Lund built a saw mill in company with 
Jonathan Danforth on Witch brook on the Spalding farm at 
North Hollis in 1766, then situated in the town of Monson. 
They operated this mill until November 8, 1797, when they 
sold it to Jonathan, Jr., and Asaph Spalding for twenty pounds. 
This mill privilege was bought of James Woodward of Read- 
ing, Mass., who owned one hundred and thirteen acres of land 
here. 

His chlidren were: Jonathan, Jr., born in Amherst, July 
25, 1771. David, born in Amherst, June 10, 1773. Isaac, 
born in Amherst, March 17, 1775; married Sally Grififin, Sep- 
tember 15, 1803 ; residence homestead ; died October 9, 1842. 
Hannah, born in Amherst, January 13, 1777 ; married Samuel 
Butler, September 24, 1805 ; residence Pelham. Priscilla, born 
in Amherst, January 25, 1779 ; married Joel Lund, November 
8, 1803 ; residence, Dunstable, Mass. Oliver, bom in Amherst, 

September 21, 1780; married ; ;residence Newport. 

Msity, born in Amherst, August 6, 1783 ; died September 8, 
1786. Samuel, born in Amherst, December 11, 1785. Ephraim, 
born in Amherst, March 17, 1788; died March 30, 1788. 
Elizabeth, born in Amherst, April 15, 1789 ; married Presson 
Holmes, May 23, 1809. Rachel, born in Amherst in 1792; 
married William Shepard ; residence Vermont. 

Mrs. Lund died January 22, 1824, age 76; buried in Old 
Yard, Milford. Mr. Lund died June 11, 1828, age 81; buried 
in Old Yard, at Milford. 



49 

JOHN HASTINGS. 

John Hasting-s, son of Joseph and EHzabeth Edwards 
Hastings, was born in Reading-, Mass., in 1700 ; married 
Keziah in 1721, and shortly after settled at "Turkey- 
hills" Luninburg, Mass. 

Their children were: Elizabeth, born in 1721; married 
Abraham Leeman, January 30, 1745. Keziah, born in 1723 ; 
married Benjamin Blanchard, December 11, 1744. Mary, born 
in 1725; married William Nevins, November 8, 1746. William, 
born in 1728 ; married . Sarah, born in 1733 ; mar- 
ried John Austin, January 1, 1756. 

This family in later years resided in Dunstable, and so 
immediately connected with the history of the West Dunstable 
families it is here given. The four Hastings girls had 42 chil- 
dren, viz : EHzabeth had 10, Keziah had 14, Mary had 9, and 
Sarah had 9, making- 42. 

William Hastings, son of William, Jr., who resided in 
Amherst, N. H., was born in 1759. He married Dorothy Dyke, 
August 31, 1785. He served in the war of the Revolution from 
Amherst in Colonel Peabody's regiment for Rhode Island in 
August, 1778. He lost a leg by a wound received from a can- 
non ball. He received a pension. 



50 

BENJAMIN KENDRICK. 

Benjamin Kendrick, son of Caleb and Abigail Bowen 
Kendrick, was born in Newton, Mass., January 30, 1724. Mr. 
Kendrick for the purpose of occupying land which his father 
owned on the Souhegan river below Lyon's bridge in Monson, 
came up in the spring of 1749, and shortly after purchased 17 
acres of Caleb Stiles, joining his other land, whereon he erected 
his rude dwelling. Mr. Kendrick married Sarah Harris, daugh- 
ter of Stephen Harris of Hollis, March 1, 1750, and settled 
at a place known as "Amherst poor farm," where he spent the 
rest of his years. 

His children were : A son, who died in infancy, born in 
1750. A daughter, who died in infancy, bom in 1752. Stephen, 
born January 13, 1756 ; married Sarah Shepard in 1778. Sarah, 
born August 29, 1758; married Nathan Kendall, Jr. Abigail, 
born August 8, 1764; married Isaac Brooks, May 28, 1791. 
Anna, born October 30, 1768 ; married Gov. Benjamin Pierce, 
February 1, 1790. 

They were the parents of President Franklin Pierce, who 
was inaugurated President of the United States, March 4, 1853. 
Mr. Kendrick was prominent in town affairs, having served the 
town of Monson nine years as Town Clerk, and eleven years 
as one of their Selectmen. Mr. Kendrick died November 13, 
1813, aged 88. Mrs. Sarah Harris, his wife, died May 27, 1818, 
aged 88. John Kendrick, a native of Muddy River, England, 
was born in 1605, and migrated to Boston in 1639. Subse- 
quently, his descendants settled in Newtton, Mass. 



51 

Capt. DANIEIv kendrick. 

Capt. Daniel Kendrick, son of Caleb and Abigail Kendrick, 
was born in Newton, Mass., October 4, 1735, a descendant 
of John Kendrick, born at Muddy River, England, in 1605, 
and came to Boston in 1639. Captain Kendrick married Han- 
nah Harris, daughter of Stephen Harris, January 29, 1759, and 
settled at Patch Corner, then located in Monson. Mr. Kendrick 
was a prominent citizen. He had influence in town affairs, and 
served the town of Monson as one of their Selectmen. Upon 
the division of Monson he came within the limits of Hollis. He 
served this town as one of their Selectmen in 1775, 1776 and 

1777. He served in the war of the Revolution, enlisting into 
Capt. Daniel Emerson's mounted company for Rhode Island in 

1778. Mr. Kendrick gave the alarm of the British troops 
marching for Concord and Lexington, April 19, 1775, by firin.^- 
a cannon as had been agreed upon. 

His children were: Elizabeth, born in Monson, December 
26, 1759 ; married Timothy Jones, June 13, 1782 ; residence 
Amherst ; died May, 1818 ; married for second husband, Andrew 
Leavitt. Daniel, Jr., born in Monson, May 26, 1761 ; married 
Mary Pool, February 15, 1782 ; died by hanging, May 13, 1790. 
Hannah, born in Monson, August 4, 1763 ; killed by her brother, 
John P., April 22, 1805, in a fit of insanity. Caleb, born in 
Monson, January 30, 1767 ; died March 17, 1789, age 22 years. 
Esther, born in Monson, November, 1773 ; died September, 1775, 
age 22 months. Bowen, born in Monson, May 18, 1770; died 
September 1, 1778. 

John Peneuil, born in Monson, 1776, became deranged, 
died in Amherst jail, May 19, 1805. Mr. Kendrick was Captain 
of state militia. He died May 20, 1789. Mrs. Hannah 
Kendrick was killed by her son, John P., in a fit of insanity, 
April 22, 1805. 



52 

DANIEL KENDRICK, Junior. 

Daniel Kendrick, Jr., son of Capt. Daniel and Hannah 
Harris Kendrick, was born in Monson, May 27, 1761 ; married 
Mary Pool, February 15, 178-<J, and settled first near his father 
at Patch Corner for a short time, then he removed to Vermont, 
residing there a few years, then returning again to Hollis to 
the old homestead at Patch Corner. Soon after returning from 
Vermont, he began to show signs of insanity. It was said this 
was hereditary in the Kendrick family. In a fit of derangement 
on the marning of May 13, 1790, Mr. Kendrick hung himself 
in his barn, being then only twenty-nine years old. 

His children were: Rev. Daniel, 3rd, born in Hollis, March 
30, 1786; married Sarah Ookman in 1812; residence Maine; 
died May, 1868. Mary, born in Vermont, September 1, 1787. 
married Timothy Hunt in 1807; residence Stoddard, N. H. 
Rev. William Pool, born in Holhs, January 27, 1790; married 
Emily Tucker in 1820 ; residence Illinois. 

Mrs. Mary Pool Kendrick, wife of Daniel Kendrick, Jr., 
married for iher second hjusbalnd Zebulon WilTeeler, October 
24, 1791. She had seven children by him. She died in 1810. 



63 

Deacon NOAH JOHNSON. 

Deacon Noah Johnson, son of WilHam and Esther Gardner 
Johnson, was born in Woburn, Mass., February 2, 1699, where 

he resided in his youth. He married EHzabeth in 

1720, and settled in Dunstable, N. H. He enlisted into Capt. 
John Lovewell's company of 46 men, as sergeant, who marched 
against the Pequawkett Indians,April 18, 1725, whom they en- 
countered May 8, at Fryburg, Me., and fought that bloody 
battle known as "Love well's fight." Mr. Johnson was severely 
wounded in his hand and arms, and disabled for many years. 
In consequence of this a pension of 10 pounds a year was 
granted him in December, 1726, by the Massachusetts Colonial 
Court, and increased to 15 pounds in 1737. Mr. Johnson lived 
at that time where the Concord Junction now is in Nashua. 
In 1728, he removed to that part of Dunstable known as "One 
Pine Hill," now Hollis, residing here until 1734, when he re- 
moved to Pembroke, N. H., residing here some years and at 
Suncook, where he was Deacon of the church, but owing to .'i 
certain litigation he returned to Dunstable in 1746. Mr. John- 
son continued to reside here until his old age in 1781, when he 
went to Plymouth, N. H., to live with his daughter. 

His children were: Elizabeth, born in Dunstable, October 
3, 1728 ; married Joseph Senter in 1754 ; residence Plymouth, 
N. H. Capt. Noah, Jr., born in Dunstable, May 27, 1730; 
killed near Lake Champlaio, Augiist, 1760. Edward, born in 
Dunstable, June 6, 1733 ; killed in the French war in 1757. 

Mr. Johnson died at Plymouth, August 13, 1798, in the 
one hundredth year of his age. He was the last survivor of 
Lovewell's fight. 



54 

General WILLIAM FRENCH. 

Gen. William French, son of Deacon William and Mehit- 
able Patten French, w^s born in Billerica, Mass., January 25, 
1713, residing on the homestead during liis youth, manifesting 
a lively interest in military affairs. He rose through all the 
grades from a private to Brigade General. He married Tabitha 
in January, 1737. 

His children were: Jonathan, born in Billerica, October 
10, 1737 ; married Abigail Hosley in 1761 ; residence Biliercia. 
William, Jr., born in Billerica, February 16, 1739 ; married Lucy 
Remick, July 25, 1776 ; residence Hollis and Bedford. Joseph, 
born in Billerica, December 10, 1740 ; married Mary Young- 
man, February 1, 1771 ; residence Hollis and Bedford. Tabitha, 
born in Billerica, December 31, 1742 ; married Carle- 
ton; residence in Billerica. Benjamin, born in Billerica, Feb- 
ruary 18, 1744; married Bethsheba Hill, November 6, 1776; 
residence Dracut and Milford, N, H. Nehemiah, born in 
Billerica, March 29, 1746 ; married Submit 1771 ; res- 
idence Lyndeboro, N. H. Stephen, born in Billerica, Deceir.- 
ber 31, 1748; married Dolly Colburn in 1773; residence Bed- 
ford, N. H. Ephraim, born in Billerica, November 10, 1751 ; 
married Hannah Melendy in 1777 ; residence Amberst, N. H. 
David, born in Billerica, September 15, 1754; married Lydia 
Parker, March 5, 1778; residence Bedford; died June 13, 1790. 
Mehitable, born August 18, 1756 ; married Job Bailey, August 
18, 1776; residence Wilton, N. H. Elizabeth, born August 18, 
1756; married Daniel Bailey, March 4, 1784; residence Hollis; 
died July 25, 1817. Mary, born in Billerica in 1758. 

General French was administrator of his father's estate in 
1745, retaining the homestead until October 8, 1766, when he 
sold it and removed the next year from Billerica to Monson, 
v.^hich was afterward Hollis ; first settler of a place since known 
as Cobbett's mill on Witch brook. Mr. French had a sister, 
Sarah, who married a Kittredge and a Kidder that lived in the 



55 

neighborhood. Mr. French built a saw mill, which he operated 
until about 1785, when he and a number of his sons went to 
Bedford, N. H.. where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
was the ancestor of many of the Frenchs. Mr. French died in 
1793, aged 80 years. 



56 

Captain THOMAS WHEELER. 

Capt. Thomas Wheeler, son of Thomas Wlieeler, who was 
bom in Fairfield, England in 1618, came to this country with 
his father before 1640; married Ruth Wood, March 17, 1741. 
Mr. Wheeler was a renound Indian fighter, and author of Indian 
anecdotes, published in \^ol. 2, N. H. Historical Col. He 
served in the Narragansett war. He, with Captain Hutchin- 
son, was sent with twenty men, August 2, 1675, to form a treaty 
with the Indians at Quabaog; they were drawn into ambush 
and suddenly fired upon, and eight of their number killed, and 
Mr. Wheeler was badly wounded. He was rescued by his son 
Thomas, then only 13 years old, who also was wounded. Cap- 
tain (Wheeler and his son, Joseph, held land grants in Dunstable, 
N. H., and as proprietors signed the petition for the charter 
of old Dunstable, dated September 19, 1673. He resided in 
Dunstable several years, and commanded a company sent to 
guard Dunstable and vicinity against Indian invasion. 

His children were: Alice, born in Concord, Mass., in 
December, 1641. Sarah, born in Concord, Mass., July 10. 
1649. Joseph, born in Concord, Mass., August 18, 1651; mar- 
ried Mary Powers, March 1, 1681; residence Dunstable and 
Nashua. Ann, born in Concord, Mass., December 20, 1653. 
John, born in Concord, Mass., February 18, 1656. Mary, born 
in Concord, Mass., December 20, 1658. Thomas, born in Con- 
cord, Mass., Alarch 29, 1662; married Hannah ; resi- 
dence, Groton, Mass. 

Mr. Wheeler died at Concord, Mass., December 16, 1686. 
age 68. Mr. Wheeler married for his second wife, Mrs. Sarah 
Beers Steams, July 23, 1677. Mr. Wheeler was encamped for 
a season at Pine Hill, within the limits of Hollis. 



57 

JAMES WHEELER, Junior. 

James Wheeler, Jr., son of James and Mary Minot Wheeler, 
was born in Bedford, Mass., May 6, 1731. He came to West 
Dunstable with his father while in his youth; married Mary 
Butterfield, November 1, 1750, and settled near his father, where 
they then resided, east of Patch Comer, which was in the town- 
ship of Monson. He became involved in debt. His creditors 
were after him. He removed about a mile east, near the Shat- 
tuck land, and told his folks if inquiry was made to tell them 
he had gone to Boston. The place has been called Boston lot 
ever since. Mr. Wheeler served in the war of the Revolution 
in Capt. Noah Worcester's company at Cambridge in 1775. 
Shortly after this he removed to the north part of Dunstable, 
where his wife's people resided, and soon after became insane 
and remained in this condition four or five years. He spent 
all of his wife's property, who became heir to several hundred 
acres of those pitch pine forests of Dunstable plains. 

His children were: James, Jr., born in Monson, January 
29, 1753; married Hannah Read, February 11, 1794; residence 
Merrimack. Reuben, born in Monson, January 30, 1755 ; mar- 
ried Dorcas Stevens, April 10, 1777 ; residence, Amherst. John, 

born in Monson, July 2, 1758; married ; residence 

Amherst. Eevincey, born in Monson, August 20, 1760; mar- 
ried William King, January 37, 1780; residence Ainlierst. 
Abizer, born in Monson, February 2, 1765; married Ruth Wil- 
liams, December 2, 1781; residence Amherst. Zebulon, born 
in Monson, January 20, 1768; married Widow Mary Pool 
Kendrick, October 21, 1791; residence Hollis. Solomon, born 
in Monson, April 28, 1769; married Hannah Farley, August 
25, 1791. 

Mr. Wheeler died in 1785; probably buried in Roby yard, 
Nashua. 



58 

DANIEL WHEELER. 

Daniel Wheeler, son of James and Mary Minot Wheeler, 
was born in Bedford, Mass., April 23, 1736. He came to West 
Dunstable with his father. He married Amy Morse, February 
1, 1757, and settled at Patch Corner in Monson. He came 
within the limits of Hollis, July 4, 1770, without a change of 
residence. Mr. Wheeler served in the French war in Capt. 
Peter Powers' company for the Crown Point expedition of 
1755. Mr. Wheeler was engaged in agricultrual pursuits, as 
were most of the early settlers. This family all left Hollis prior 
to 1800. 

His children were: Lydia, born in Monson, November 24, 
1757 ; married Joseph Adams ; died in 1825. Abner, born in 
Monson, April 14, 1760 ; married Mary Ross ; was at battle of 
Bennington. Jacob, born in Monson, March 5, 1763 ; mar- 
ried Elizabeth Dix, March 7, 1790; died April 25, 1829. 
Daniel, Jr., born March 18, 1765 ; bound out by Samuel Lee- 
man to Ephraim Lund, a blacksmith, in 1782 ; married Chive 
White; residence Alstead, N. H.; died March 18, 1853. Ben- 
jamin, born in Monson, August 18, 1768; married Polly Fitch 
of Bedford, Mass. ; residence. Concord, N. H. Hannah, bom 
in Monson, 1772 ; married Joseph Flagg of Grafton, N. H. ; 
married for second husband Deacon Nathaniel Hale of Orange, 
N. H. ; died 1862, age 90. 

Mr. Wheeler died early in 1775. His widow. Amy Wheeler, 
married Samuel Leeman, April 7, 1779, for a second husband. 
They resided at the Wheeler homestead at Patch Corner. Mr. 
Leeman died in 1789. His wife resided here until May 26, 
1803, when she went to live with her son at Concord, N. H. 
She died November 30, 1821. 



59 

Lieutenant THADDEUS WHEELER. 

Lieut. Thaddeus Wheeler, son of James and Mary Minot 
Wheeler, was born in West Dunstable, December 16, 1742. He 
married Elizabeth Farmer, October 17, 1769, He belonged to 
the Hollis minute men, and served in the war of the Revolu- 
tion, and was afterward lieutenant in State Militia. He served 
in the town of HolHs as one of their Selectmen for several years 
between the years of 1787 and 1808. Mr. Wheeler was a well- 
to-do farmer, and the owner of a large landed estate. He suc- 
ceeded to the homestead a man of considerable influence in town 
affairs. An ardent Democrat of the Jefferson school, he brought 
his boys up well grounded in the party faith. 

His children were : Elizabeth, born in Hollis, July 12, 1770 ; 
married David French, January 2, 1799 ; residence HolHs. 
Thaddeus, born in Hollis, October 10, 1773 ; married Sibbel 
Spalding, November 13, 1800 ; died January 9, 1871, age 98. 
Minot, born in Hollis, May 6, 1777 ; married Sally Farley, April 
28, 1800. Theodore, born in Hollis, January 7, 1780 ; married 
Susannah Hamlet, October 30, 1805 ; residence Hollis. Amos, 
born in Hollis, July 12, 1783 ; married Mary Rideout, November 
1, 1813; residence homestead. Major James, born in Hollis, 
August 6, 1785; married Dorcas Mooar, April 23, 1817; resi- 
dence Hollis. Captain Benjamin, born in Hollis, October 16, 
1790; married Rhoda Rideout, February 4, 1824; residence 
Maine. 

Mr. Wheeler died in May 1826, from the effects of an 
injury sustained by the kick of a steer; aged about 83 years 
and 5 months. Mrs. Elizabeth Wheeler, his wife, died prior 
to 1840. It is said that Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are buried in 
the tomb at the South Yard in Hollis. 



60 

ABRAHAM TAYLOR, Junior. 

Abraham Taylor, Jr., son of Deacon Abraham and Mary 
Merriam Taylor, was bom in Concord, Mass., April 4, 1707. 
He married Lydia Whittaker, January 20, 1731; resided with 
his parents in Dunstable during his minority. He was engaged in 
farming in after years. Mr. Taylor removed to West Dunstable 
about 1734, and settled at a point about sixty rods northerly from 
the meeting-house and about as far easterly from Peter Powers, 
and as appears from the records, was a prominent character in 
the new settlement, and is supposed to have been the fourth or 
fifth to locate here, and was its benefactor, having given the 
Parish the land whereon the meeting-house was subsequently 
put, its location in November, 1740, being a compromise be- 
tween the southerners, led by Thomas Dinsmore, and the north- 
erners under the leadership of Stephen Harris, and was se- 
lected after a wrangling contest of several months' duration. 

Mr. Taylor's children as found recorded were : Olive, born 
in Dunstable, Mass., January 8, 1732; died young. Lydia, born 
October 11, 1733 ; married Noah Worcester, February 22, 1757. 
Leonard, born in West Dunstable, October 20, 1735 ; died prior 
to June 17, 1764. Olive, born August 20, 1737 ; married David 
Blood of Pepperell, Mass., November 2, 1762. Abraham, Jr., 

born August 11, 1739 ; married Sarah Prescott 1761 ; 

residence Westford, Mass. Sarah, born October 24, 1741 ; 
married Trueworthy Smith, May 29, 1766. Submit, born June 
13, 1743. 

Mr. Taylor died June 3, 1743, age' 36, buried in the Church 
yard at Hollis. Mrs. Lydia Taylor, his wife, died September 
23, 1795, age 83, at Hollis. Mr. Taylor gave the land for the 
portion of the burying ground, and was the first man buried 
in it. He married Lydia Whittaker, January 20, 1731. 



61 

JONATHAN TAYLOR. 

Jonathan Taylor, son of Jonathan, a native of Dunstable, 
was born in 1720. He came to Hollis prior to 1747. On October 
27, he married Keziah Colburn, daughter of William and Mar- 
garet Wooley Colburn, and settled in Monson at a place north of 
the Bailey farm, since known as the Hayden homestead. Mr. 
Taylor was prominent in town affairs, having served the town 
of Monson as one of their Selectmen in 1759, In the spring 
of 1761, Mr. Ta3dor sold his farm to Samuel Hayden of Sud- 
bury, Mass., and purchased of Samuel Burge at Long pond in 
Hollis ; the farm so long known as the Esquire Wright place, 
where he continued to reside the remainder of his life. Mr. 
Taylor was a cautious and prudent manager and by dint of 
industry and perseverance obtained a competency, and was 
considered a well-to-do farmer. 

His children were as follows : Kesiah, born in Monson 
on June 29, 1749 ; married James Colburn, August 1, 1771 ; 
died August 26, 1772. Azubah, born in Monson, November 
12, 1751 ; married Ebenezer Wheeler, July 13, 1780 ; residence 
Hollis ; died October 22, 1853. Esther, born in Monson, Feb- 
ruary 19, 1754; married Benjamin Wright, December 15, 1774; 
residence Hollis; died November 18, 1830, 

Mr. Taylor died April 7, 1789, aged 69. Mrs. Taylor 
died July 27, 1808, in the 87th year of her age. 



62 

Rev. DANIEL EMERSON. 

Rev. Daniel Emerson, son of Peter and Anna Brown 
Emerson, was born in Reading, Mass., May 20, 1716. He was 
graduated from Harvard University in 1739. Settled in Gospel 
ministry at West Dunstable, April 20, 1743. The Rev. Dr. 
Davis of Amherst in his Centennial address before the Hollis 
Association of Ministers, in September, 1862, said of him: 
"He was a man of large and active intellect, a convert of 
Whitefield and partaking largely of his spirit. He was uni- 
formly evangelical, and often a very eloquent preacher." 

Mr. Emerson served in the French war as chaplain of Col. 
Joseph Blanchard's regiment in the Crown Point expedition 
of 1755. He continued the pastoral relation with the church and 
people here more than 58 years. He married Hannah Emerson, 
daughter of Joseph Emerson, November 7, 1744. 

His children were : Hannah, born September 30, 1745 ; 
married Manasser Smith, February 17, 1774 ; removed to Maine. 
Deacon Daniel, Jr., born December 15, 1746 ; married Anna 
Fletcher, November 17, 1768; died October 4, 1820. Mary, 
born September 19, 1748; died January 10, 1750. Dr. Peter, 
born November 7, 1749 ; married Rebecca Hobart, January 2, 
1777 ; second marriage, Molly Muzzey, October 21, 1781 ; died 
February 21, 1827. Lucy, born October 28, 1751 ; married Silas 
Swallow, June 16. 1786 ; residence Dunstable. Mary, born 
November 14, 1753 ; married Ebenezer Rookwood, June 10, 
1779 ; died March 9, 1848. Elizabeth, born May 5, 1755 ; mar- 
ried Rev. Isaac Bailey, April 8, 1784. Ebenezer, born August 
14, 1757 ; died April 8, 1759. Joseph, born September 28, 1759 ; 
died July 27, 1781, at Harvard. Ralph, born March 4, 1761: 
married Alice Ames, May 13, 1784 ; killed by cannon, October 
4, 1790. Rebecca, born July 5, 1762; died July 5, 1762. Dr. 
Samuel, born July 5, 1762 ; married Olive Burrell, July 6, 1791 ; 
residence, Kekinebunk, died August 7, 1857, William, born 
December 11, 1765 ; died Nov. 11, 1775, 



63 

Mr. Emerson died September 30, 1801, aged 85 years. He 
was buried in the Church yard, HolHs. Mrs. Emerson died 
February 28, 1812, aged 90 years. 



64 

Deacon Dx\NIEL EMERSON, Junior. 

Deacon Daniel Emerson, Jr., son of Rev. Daniel and Han- 
nah Emerson, was born in Hollis, December 15, 1746. He 
married Anna Fletcher, November 17, 17G8. Chosen Deacon 
of the Hollis church in 1775. Appointed Coroner and High 
Sheriff of Hillsboro county in 1776. He was Captain of the 
Hollis company that went to Ticonderoga in July of that year, 
and was also Captain of the company enlisted in Hollis in June, 
1777, upon the Ticonderoga alarm. He was also in 1778 Cap- 
tain of a mounted Hollis company that went to Rhode Island 
in the summer of that year; and also of a company in Colonel 
Mooney's regiment raised for the defence of Rhode Island in 
1779. Captain Emerson was Town Clerk and first Selectman 
in 1780 and 1781 ; a member of the New Hampshire Council 
in 1787, of the New Hampshire Constitutional Convention in 
1791 ; and a Representative to the New Hampshire General 
Court in nineteen different years, between 1780 and 1812. He 
was a farmer and resided in the middle of the town. He was 
a man of large influence in church and town affairs. 

His children were: Anna, born August 20, 1769; married 
Eli Smith May 7, 1794; residence Hollis. Daniel, 3rd., born 
July 15, 1771; died November 16, 1808. Hannah, born De- 
cember 7, 1773. Joseph, born October 13, 1777; died May 
13, 1833. Ralph, born August 18, 1787. Samuel, born Novem- 
ber 9, 1791. William, born November 9, 1791; married Sarah 
Jewett, April 18, 1814; married second time, Mary Rice; died 
December 3, 1873. 

Mr. Emerson died October 4, 1820, aged 74. 



65 

Colonel WILLIAM EMERSON. 

Col. William Emerson, son of Deacon Daniel and Anna 
Fletcher, was born in Hollis, November 29, 1791. He married 
Sarah Jewett, daughter of Deacon Stephen Jewett, April 18, 
1814. She died August 24, 1837. He married for his second 
wife, Mary Rice. He settled at old Emerson homestead and 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

Mr. Emerson was prominent in militia affairs. He was 
promoted through all the grades from non-commissioned of- 
ficer to Colonel of the regiment. It was said of him that he was 
haughty and proud, and felt in his glory when in front of the 
regiment, and took great delight in commanding it. He was 
disliked by some of the line officers. Mr. Emerson served the 
town as one of their Selectmen in 1825. He was chosen Deacon 
of the Congregational church in Hollis in 1832. He served 
as ensign in the war of 1812. He resided in Hollis until about 
1838, when he removed to Nashua, then to Auburn, Mass., 
where he died. 

His children were: William, Jr., bom April 29, 1815; 
died September 24, 1834. Sarah M., born March 3, 1817. 
Charles H., born February 24, 1819 ; married Caroline Hay- 
ward. Mary J., born August 11, 1821; died unmarried August 
24, 1855. Daniel L., born September 20, 1823; married Ellen 
A. Hendrick; died in 1845. 

Mr. Emerson died December 3, 1873, aged 82. 



66 

MOSES EMERSON. 

Moses Emerson was born in Haverhill, February 3, 1738. 
He came to Monson in his youth. He served in the old French 
war in Capt. Peter Powers' company, regiment of Col. Joseph 
Blanchard, for the Crown Point expedition 6i 1755. Married 
Rebecca about 1760, and settled on what has subse- 
quently been known as the Atwood place, situated in extreme 
northwest part of Hollis, on the road leading from the Bailey 
schoolhouse to Federal hill in Milford. Mr. Emerson was the 
first settler at this place so far as we have any history. 

He was taxed in Hollis from 1770 to 1784. His son 
Benjamin was taxed from 1784 to 1794, when they sold this 
farm in 1795 to Ebenezer Baldwin of Ashby, Mass. This fam- 
ily then removed to Hebron or Groton of this state. 

The births of three children are found recorded in the old 
records, viz: Benjamin, born in 17G1. Moses, born about 
1764; married Rebecca Hesteton, January 24, 1793; residence 
Deering, N. H. Betty, born about 1768. 



67 

Deacon TIMOTHY EMERSON. 

Deacon Timothy Emerson, a native and resident of Tewks- 

bury, who married Hiildah . He came up from 

Tewksbury and settled in Monson in the spring of 1768, at a 
point since known as the Rogers place, Witch brook valley at 
North Hollis. Mr, Emerson served as Deacon of a church, 
prior to coming to Monson. He had acquired considerable 
real estate in the vicinity in which he resided. 

In the spring of 1780 or 1781, he sold his farm to Benjamin 
Rogers and removed to the Lot Mooar place on Mooar's hill, 
at North Hollis, residing here until about 1795, when it was 
said he died suddenly. Mr. Emerson was the first settler here, 
and built the Benjamin Rogers house; now (1909) owned and 
occupied by Waldo E. Hill, 

His children as found recorded were: Timothy, Jr., born 
in HolHs, December 11, 1776. Aaron, born January 11, 1778. 
Stephen, bom March 29, 1781. Huldah, born April 1, 1783. 
Jesse, born May 15, 1785. 



68 

THOMAS EMERSON. 

Thomas Emerson, a native of Tewksbury, Mass., and 
brother of Deacon Timothy Emerson, who married Judith 

and settled in Monson in the spring of 1768, at what 

is known as the Amos Fletcher place at North Hollis, and built 
the old house now standing on the place. 

Mr. Emerson served in the old French war, in the Crown 
Point expedition, and served in the war of the Revolution 
in Capt. Daniel Emerson's company of Col, Joshua Wingate's 
regiment, who marched to Ticonderoga in July, 1776. He was 
in the service six months. In the spring of 1793, he sold his 
farm to Samuel Fletcher of New Ipswich, N. H., and is re- 
ported to have moved to Richmond, N. H. 

Mr. Emerson's children as found recorded here were as 
follows: Thomas, born in Hollis, November 27, 1774. Wil- 
liam, born in Hollis, March 28, 1777. Daniel, born in Hollis, 
June 12, 1780. John S., born in Hollis, August 12, 1783. Asa, 
born in Hollis, September 20, 1785. 



69 

JONATHAN FOSTER. 

Jonathan Foster, son of Jonathan Foster, was born in Ips- 
wich, Mass., in 1758. He married Rachel Kittredge, June 21, 
1784, and shortly after settled at Hollis, on the place known 
as the Colonel John Mooar farm on Mooar's hill at North 
Hollis. It had been occupied by Benjamin Nevins. Mr. Foster 
served in the war of the Revolution from Tewksbury. He v/as 
engaged in the art of pigeon catching, so much so that people 
called him "Pigeoner Jack." The first school in the north part 
of Hollis was kept at Mr. Foster's house by Isaac Brooks, dur- 
ing the fall of 1790. There was no schoolhouse in the old north 
district until about 1792. Mr. Foster, as was most of his neigh- 
bors, engaged in farming. 

His children were : Rachel, born July 22, 1785 ; married 
Benjamin Farley, November 10, 1814; residence Hollis. 
Rhoda, born January 10, 1787 ; married Amos Foster of Tewks- 
bury, November 23, 1813. Lydia, born November 11, 1789; 
married Alfred Hutchingson, May 8, 1810 ; residence Milford. 
Jonathan, Jr., born January 9, 1793 ; married Leefy French, 
October 17, 1816 ; residence Amherst. Abigail, born November 
25, 1796 ; married Jonathan B. Stevens, April 4, 1814. Hannah, 
born October, 1801 ; died December 9, 1801. Moses K., born 
in 1805; died in 1806. 

Mr. Foster died May 17, 1813, in 55th year of his age; 
buried in North yard. Mrs. Foster died at Hardwick- Vt., 
May 14, 1852, aged 90 years. 



70 

OLIVER FARWELL, Junior. 

Oliver Farwell, Jr., son of Oliver and Abigail Hubburt 
Farwell, was born in Dunstable, June 21, 1741. A descendant 
of Henry Farwell, who settled in Concord, Mass., prior to IGGO. 
a renowned old plebian, who was the ancestor of nearly all of 
the Dunstable Farwells. Mr. Farwell married Abigail Danforth 
of Dunstable about 1770, and soon after settled at South Mer- 
rimack, N. H., where he opened a hotel which became famous 
in after years as the old Farwell tavern stand. This grand old 
hostlery was situated on the Post road leading from Wood- 
stock, Vt, to Boston. This venerable house is still (1909) 
standing, formerly known as the J. B. Holt tavern, but more 
recently called the Rockingham House. 

Mr. Farwell became a large land holder, as was his father 
before him ; he was grantee of land in Wilton, Acworth and 
Claremont. Mr. Farwell's grandfather, Oliver Farwell, was 
killed with others by the Indians in a fight near Thornton's Ferry 
on the Merrimack river, September 5, 1734. 

His children as found recorded were : Joseph, born in 
1772 ; married Sophia Blanchard. Mary, born in 1774 ; mar- 
ried William Patterson. Abigail, born in 1776 ; married Wil- 
liam Clark. Oliver, born in 1779 ; married 1804 ; 

died at sea in 1812. 

Mr. Farwell died in October, 1822, at South Merrimack, 
aged 81. Mrs. Abigail Farwell, his wife, died May 1, 1840, 
aged 92. 



n 

DANIEL BAILEY, Senior. 

Daniel Bailey, Sr., son of Benjamin, formerly from Salem, 
Mass., and Mary Parmenter Bailey, was born in Middleton, 
Mass., March 18, 1728. He married Rebekah Farnsworth, 
daughter of Joseph Farnsworth of Groton, Mass., in 1751, and 
settled in Stowe. Mr. Bailey, prior to 1759, purchased the Moses 
Saunders estate in Monson, N. H., and removed there. He 
built the old house in the place of a log hut, and soon after 
repaired the old saw mill and carried on milling. 

Mr. Bailey served in the French war. He also served in 
the war of the revolution, at Cambridge three months in 1775, 
in the northern campaign in 1777, at Rhode Island in 1778 and 
1779, He was a large land holder. 

His children were: Joel, born in Stowe, December 11, 
1751; married Mary Wheeler in 1776; residence HolHs ; died 
December 28, 1815. Andrew, born in Stowe, January 4, 1754; 
he was in the war of the Revolution; died November 13, 1781; 
unmarried. Capt. Daniel, Jr., born in Stowe", December 8, 
1755 ; married Elizabeth French, March 4, 1784 ; residence 
homestead; died March 13, 1847. Joanna, born in Stowe, Jan- 
uary 30, 1758; married Ebenezer Melvin, Jr., February 20, 
1777; residence, Groton. Rebekah, born in Monson, July 24, 

1760; married Jesse Hardy, January 3, 1788; died 

1792. Sarah, born in Monson, July 24, 1763, married Oliver 
Willoby, January 31, 1787 ; married second time Enoch Jewett 
in 1837. Aaron, born in Monson, June 28, 1765 ; married 
Elizabeth Wallingsford, May 17, 1785; remained in New York. 
Mary, born in Monson, November 16, 1768 ; married Solomon 
Hardy in 1796 ; removed to Dublin. 

Mr. Bailey died January 15, 1798, aged about 70. Mrs. 
Rebekah, his wife, died June 8, 1805, age 73. 



72 



Captain DANIEL BAILEY, Junior. 

Capt. Daniel Bailey, Jr., son of Daniel and Rebekah Farns- 
worth Bailey, was born in Stowe, Mass., December 8, 1755. 
He came to Monson with his father when only about four years 
old. He was engaged in farming and milling, and was a very 
influential citizen. He settled many estates, and was guardian 
for minor heirs, etc. Mr. Bailey served in the war of the Rev- 
olution in Col. Naham Baldwin's regiment, in Capt. William 
Reed's company, for New York five months. He was at the 
battle of White Plains. Mr. Bailey succeeded to the homestead 
situated in the northwest part of Hollis. 

He was prominent in military affairs and was Captain of 
State militia. He served the town of Hollis as one of their 
Selectmen 10 years between 1808 and 1816. He represented 
Hollis in the New Hampshire General Court of 1813 ; was 
superintendent of the first Sabbath School in Hollis, organized 
in 1821. Mr. Bailey married Elizabeth French, daughter of 
Gen. William French, March 4, 1784, who died July 25, 1817. 
He married for his second wife, Mrs. Mary (Boyden) Read, 
Lawrence, April 2, 1818. 

His children were as follows : Elizabeth, born in Hollis, 
September 25, 1784; died July 25, 1816, of consumption; un- 
married. Rebekah, born in Hollis, July 12, 1786 ; married 
Ebenezer Baldwin, March 31, 1831; died February 12, 1874. 
Lydia, born in Hollis, April 21, 1789 ; married Simeon Stearns, 
August 18, 1812; died April 12, 1825. Daniel, 3rd, born in 
Hollis, December 31, 1793 ; married Lucy Baldwin, March, 
1821; died July 7, 1828. Mary, born August 28, 1797; died 
March 26, 1815, age 18, of consumption. 

Mrs. Mary Bailey, his wife, died September 3, 1842, aged 
84.. Capt. Daniel Bailey died March 13, 1847, aged about 92. 
Captain Bailey built the house now (1909) standing on the 
premises, in 1817. 



73 

JOEL BAILEY. 

Joel Bailey, son of Daniel, Sr., and Rebekah Farnsworth 
Bailey, was born in Stowe, Mass., December 11, 1751. He came 
to Monson with his father when he was eight years old. He 
enlisted into the war of the Revolution at Cambridge in 1775, 
eight months at West Point; three months in 1780. Mr. Baile} 
was a great hunter of wild animals ; the black bear, the wolf, 
the wild cat or panther, then roamed the forests at will. He 
was also a renowned coon hunter. His father gave him fifty 
acres of land for a homestead, (of which he had the same 
amount for all liis children). His father built him a house, 
which is still (1909) standing, situated about sixty rods north- 
west of the Bailey schoolhouse ofif the Milford road, more re- 
cently known as the Stimson place. This house was built about 
1775. 

Mr. Bailey married Mary Wheeler, oldest daughter of 
James Wheeler, Jr., in 3 776. Mr. Bailey had no children. His 
kinsman, Leonard Bailey, cared for him in his old age, and 
had the property. 

Mr. Bailey died December 28, 1815, aged 64. Mrs. Mary 
Bailey, his wife, died June 30, 1842, aged 90. 



74 

AARON BAILEY. 

Aaron Bailey, son of Daniel and Rebekah Farnsworth 
Bailey, was born in Monson, June 28, 1765 ; married Elizabeth 
Wallingsford, May 17, 1785, His father gave him fifty acres 
of land and built a house thereon; this place since known as 
the Oliver Willoby or Baldwin place. Mr. Bailey kept a West 
India goods store here. This venture proved to be a failure 
as he purchased his liquors and other goods of James Brazier 
of Groton, whom he failed to pay, and subsequently mortgaged 
his whole property to him, who a few years later foreclosed 
and took the property. At one time Mr. Bailey kept a dancing 
school. Mr. Bailey went to northern New York and after a 
time sent for his family. His brother Daniel carried them as 
far as Lake Champlain. 

His children were: Elizabeth, born August 19, 1785; died 
same day. Angeline, born July 18, 1786 ; died same day. 
Andrew, born April 28, 1788, Aaron, Jr., born June 7, 1791; 
died September 29, 1800. David, born May 15, 1793. Eliz- 
abeth, born June 30, 1795. Freeman, born September 11, 1797. 
Joel, born June 17, 1800. Roena, born July 5, 1803. 



75 

BENJAMIN BLANCHARD, Senior. 

Benjamin Blanchard, Sr., son of Benjamin and Elizabeth 
Blanchard, was born in Andover, Mass., 1696. He married 
Mary Abbott in 1719. He was engaged in farming as was 
most of the early settlers of New England. 

Mr. Blanchard removed to West Dunstable in 1743, and 
settled about one mile southeast of the meeting-house on land 
recently owned by a farmer, Charles Richardson. 

He signed a petition to the General Court of New Hamp- 
shire, asking for a scout to guard and protect them against 
Indian invasion, dated June 18, 1744. Mr. Blanchard was a 
lenial descendant of Deacon John Blanchard, a prominent char- 
acter in the new settlement of Andover. 

His children as found recorded were : Benjamin, Jr., born 
in Andover, in 1720; married Kesiah Hastings, December 31, 
1744. Annie, born in Andover, November 32, 1722 ; married 
Jonathan Danforth, May 24, 1743. Jacob, bom in Andover 
in 1725 ; married Elizabeth Lawrence in November, 1745. 
Joshua, born in Andover in 1727 ; married Sarah Burge, Sep- 
tember 12, 1747 ; residence Hollis, 

Mr. Blanchard's name disappears from the records here 
after 1753. 



76 

BENJAMIN BLANCHARD, Junior. 

Benjamin Blanchard, Jr., son of Benjamin and Mary 
Abbott Blanchard, was born in Andover, Mass., in 1720. He 
married Kesiah Hastings, December 31, 1744, Mr. Blanchard 
came to West Dunstable with his father in 1743. 

He served the town of Hollis as one of their Selectmen for 
the years of 1750 and 1754. Mr. Blanchard removed from 
Hollis to Peacham, Vt., at a place called Danvil Mills, some 
time during the year of 1769. He had remained on the home- 
stead until this time. 

His children were: Benjamin, 3rd, born in West Dun- 
stable, November 15, 1745. Kesiah, born in Hollis, March 

26, 1747; married Jeremiah Wheeler, February 15, 1770. 
Abial, born in Hollis, January 9, 1749; died October 3, 1749. 
Jonathan, bora June 28, 1750. Abial, born December 1, 1751. 
Isaac, born April 14, 1753. Dorcas, born in Hollis, February 
25, 1755; died young. Peter, born in Hollis, August 27, 1756. 
Dorcas, born February 25, 1757. Joel, born in Hollis, August 

27, 1759. Abel, born in HoUis, February 17, 1761. Reuben, 
born in Hollis, February 1, 1763. Betty, born in Hollis, Jan- 
uary 21, 1765. Simon, born in Hollis, April 10, 1766. 



77 

SAMUEL BROWN, Senior. 

Samuel Brown, Sr., son of John and Abigail Brown, 
was born in Byfield Parish, Rowley, Mass., July 20, 1686. He 
married Elizabeth Wheeler of Salisbury, May 17, 1716, He 
was a collector of the Parish, and a prominent citizen of the 
town. He removed from Rowley to Littleton, Mass., in 1739, 
and was constable of the place in 1736. Mr, Brown removed 
from Littleton to West Dunstable in 1743. 

He was quite prominent in town and church affairs, and 
was one of the committee of arrangements for the ordination 
of the Rev. Daniel Emerson. The registry of deeds represents 
that he owned many valuable parcels of land. It was said that 
he had several hundred acres in West Dunstable. 

His children were: John, born in Rowley, April 5, 1717; 
died young. Mary, born in Rowley, May 15, 1718. Josiah, 
bom in Rowley, May 3, 17?0 ; married Anna Farwell, Novem- 
ber 11, 1741. Dr. John, born in Rowley, March, 1724; mar- 
ried Kesiah Wlieeler, October 9, 1744 ; married second time, 
Martha Jewett. February 18. 1761 ; died May 6, 1776. Hannah, 
bom in Rowley, November 26, 1727; married Samuel Farley, 
October 9, 1744 ; residence. Groton, N. H. Sarah, born in 
Littleton, October 18. 1730. Susannah, born June 10, 1735; 
married Zachariah Davis, June 24, 1773. Martha, born June 
25, 1736; married Eleazer Cummings, April 1, 1753; removed 
to Maine. Samuel, Jr., born October 31, 1737 ; married Mary 
Glene, March 26, 1756; married second time, Mary Wheeler, 
January, 1761. 

Mr. Brown died February 22, 1755, at Hollis, in the 62nd 
year of his age. 



78 

Lieutenant JOSIAH BROWN. 

Lieut. Josiah Brown, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Wheeler 
Brown, was born in Rowley, Mass., May 3, 1720. He married 
Anna Farwell of Groton, Mass., November 11, 1741, and 
shortly after settled in West Dunstable on land grant of his 
father's, where he built his log hut, cleared off the forests, and 
commenced farming. Mr. Brown served in the French war 
as Ensign in Capt. Nehemiah Lovewell's company. Col. John 
Hart's regiment, for the second expedition against Louisburg 
in 1758. He was a grantee of Plymouth, N. H., and removed 
there in 1764, and was a prominent citizen in the new settle- 
ment. He was commissioned Lieutenant in the militia, May 24, 
1765, by Governor Wentworth. Incapacitated by the infirmities 
of age from active service in the Revolution, he remained a 
wise and useful councilor. 

His children were: Elizabeth, born October 14, 1742; 
married Zachariah Parker, June 27, 1762; he died in 1814; 
she married second time, Samuel Emerson, December 31, 1818 ; 
she died in 1827. Anna, born October 23, 1744; married Jotham 
Comings, April 27, 1763. Josiah, born September 24, 1746; 
died April 14, 1753. Molly, born September 4, 1748 ; married 
Charles Clark, September 24, 1767. Joseph, born November 
8, 1750 ; married Susannah Dearborn, November 2, 1773 ; died 
March 15, 1775. Olive, bom November 1, 1752; married 
Samuel Marsh, November 30, 1769. Susannah, born August 
20, 1754 ; married Joseph Hicks, March 31, 1774. Sarah,, born 
January 3, 1757 ; married Joshua Fletcher in 1775 ; residence 
Plymouth. Josiah, Jr., born January 31, 1759 ; married Rachel 
Fellows, November 4, 1779 ; residence Plymouth. 

Mr. Brown died in Plymouth in 1787 or early in 1788. 



79 

Dr. JOHN BROWN. 

Dr. John Brown, son of Samuel, Sr., and Elizabeth Wheeler 
Brown, was born in Byfield Parish, Rowley, Mass., in March, 
1724. He married first, Kesiah Wheeler, daughter of James 
Wheeler. He moved from Rowley with his father in 1729. where 
in his youth he assisted his father in hotel keeping, removing to 
West Dunstable in 17-tl and settling on land grant of his father's, 
erecting his log hut and marrying Kesiah Wheeler, October 9, 
1714. Mr. Brown removed to INIonson, N. H., about 1750, where 
he became the only physician that Monson ever had, so far as we 
have any account. He served the town as one of their Select- 
men for the years of 175G, 1757 and 1758. He served in the 
old French war under the command of Lieut. Col. John Goffe 
in the Crown Point expedition of 1757. Mr. Brown was one 
of the grantees of Plymouth, N. H., where he removed in 17G6. 
His wife, Kesiah, died October 31, 1760, and he married for 
his second wife, Martha Jewett, of Rowley, February 18, 17G1. 

His children were : Silas, born in West Dunstable, Aug- 
ust 11, 1745 ; married Lucy Wheeler, October 8, 1765 ; residence 
Pl3miouth. John, Jr., born in Hollis, January 27, 1747 ; married 
Abigail Phillips in 1773 ; residence Plymouth. Kesiah, born 
December 23, 1749; married William Hobart, November 10, 
1766 ; residence Campton. Abigail, born in Monson, June 10, 
1754; married Samuel Shaw, June 24, 1774. Phineas, born 
in Monson, November 24, 1756. Rebekah, born in Monson, 
September 1, 1758. EHzabeth, born September 10, 1760; mar- 
ried Nehemiah Phillips. Martha, born April 18, 1762. Sarah, 
born March 24, 1764. Stephen, born in Plymouth, April 18, 
3 766; married Anna Davis. December 18, 1788; died May 4, 
1839. 

Mr. Brown died May 6, 1776, aged 52. 



80 

SAMUEL BROWN, Junior. 

Samuel Brown, Jr., soni of Samuel and Elizabeth Wheeler 
Brown, was born in Littleton, Mass., October 31, 1737. He 
came to West Dunstable with his father in 1743, when only 
about six years old. He married Mary Glene, March 26, 1756, 
who died November 29, 1760. He then married Mary Wheeler, 
daughter of Peter Wheeler, January 22, 1761. 

Mr. Brown removed to Mason, N. H., in 1773. He was 
admitted member of the church there in 1774. He was quite 
prominent in town affairs, and served the town as Moderator 
for the years 1776, 1777 and 1778. He was chosen and served 
on various committees during his residence in Mason. He 
was in the Revolutionary war from Mason, and removed from 
there shortly after the war. 

Of his children we have the following account : Mary, born 
in Hollis, January 1, 1757. William, born in Hollis, November 
13, 1758 ; died young. Hannah, born in Hollis, November 13, 
1760; married Silas Spaulding, April 24, 1778; residence, 
Mason. Bridget, born in Hollis, December 31, 1761. Samuel, 
born int Hollis, January 11, 1764. William, born in Hollis, 
January 4, 1766; married Elizabeth Nevins in 1789. Josiah, 
born in Mason, April 15, 1775. Daniel Emerson, born in 
Mason, July 4, 1777. 



81 

Deacon SAMUEL GOODHUE. 

Deacon Samuel Goodhue, son of Deacon Joseph Goodhue 
of Ipswich, Mass., was born April 6, 1696, in Ipswich. He 
married Abigail Bartlett, and settled in Stratham, N. H., and 
after a time, he removed to Notting-ham. He was a Deacon of 
the church here. Mr. Goodhue removed to West Dunstable 
about 1744, and settled at the Dr. Joseph F. Eastman place at 
Hollis village. He soon became a prominent and influential 
citizen and retained the entire confidence of his fellow towns- 
men and enjoyed many official positions within their gifts. 

He served the town as Moderator in the years of 1756 and 
1757, and as one of the Selectmen in 1750, 1751, 1753, 1751 and 
1756. Deacon Goodhue served in the war of the Revolution 
one month at Portsmouth in 1777. 

His children so far as known were: Samuel, Jr., born 
about 1733. Rev. Josiah, born in 1735 ; married Elizabeth 
Fletcher, July 27, 1757 ; residence Dunstable. John, born in 
1737 ; married Rebecca Perham, April 26, 1787 ; in the French 

war. Stephen, born . Mary, born in 1751; married 

Rev. Samuel Ambrose, February 20, 1776; died January 5, 
1830. 

Deacon Samuel Goodhue died November 7, 1785, age 90. 



82 

Lieutenant ROBERT COLBURN. 

Lieut. Robert Colburn, son of William and Margaret 
Wooley Colburn, was born in Billerica, Mass., March 21, 1717. 
He came to West Dunstable with his father in the spring of 
1738, and helped to build the first meeting-house in West Dun- 
stable in December, 1740. Mr. Colburn married Elizabeth 
Leeman, daughter of Samuel Leeman, March 2, 1745. She 
died in 1746. He married for a second wife, Elizabeth Smith, 
and settled north of Patch Corner, March 21, 1747, then lo- 
cated in the old township of Monson. He was quite prominent 
in town affairs, having served the town as Town Clerk 13 years, 
and as one of the Selectmen 15 years. Mr. Colburn served in 
the war of the Revolution, and was subsequently a Lieutenant 
in State militia. 

His children as found recorded were : Robert, Jr., bom 
in Monson, April 29, 1748 ; married Dorcas Upton, October 
G, 1772; died May 28, 1819. EHas, born in Monson, October 
22, 1749; died young. Benjamin, born in Monson, May 11, 
1751 ; died young. Nathan, born in Monson, November 6, 
1752; married Abigail Shattuck, January 88, 1779. Benjamin, 
born in Monson, May 11, 1755 ; married Esther Wheeler, Feb- 
ruary 24, 1779; residence. Temple, N. H., and Vermont; died 
January 21, 1847. Peter, born in Monson, November 14, 1756 ; 
died young. Elizabeth, born in Monson, April 27, 1759 ; mar- 
ried William Ball, February 9, 1781; residence Hollis ; died in 
1781. Lucy, born in Monson, January 12, 1761 ; married 
Thomas Hardy, January 1, 1784; residence, Dublin. Anna, 
born in Monson, November 27, 1763; died May 24, 1769. 

Mr. Colburn became a large land holder; built in 1776 the 
h.ouse and resided at the old Thad Wheeler place near Patch 
Corner. Mr. Colburn died July 9, 1783, age 66. 



83 

SAMUEL MURDOUGH. 

Samuel Murdough, who settled in West Dunstable about 
1746 at a place in the new settlement north of Goodwin hill in 
the present town of Milford. Mr. Murdough served the town 
of Monson as Highway Surveyor in 1749, and as Pound Keeper 
on several occasions. He was a prosperous and successful 
farmer, raising a large crop of corn, and tradition says that 
on one occasion he had a large husking party at his barn, 
wherein he dispensed a liberal hospitality, with plenty of ardent 
spirit, so much so that some of the number present failed to 
reach home that night. Mr. Murdough became involved in a 
prolonged litigation with some parties in Merrimack. 

His children so far as I have been able to learn were : 
Thomas, who resided at Thornton's Ferry. Robert, who resided 
in Monson. Sarah, Mdio married Joseph Ellenwood, October 
29, 1752, resided in Souhegan West, or Amherst. 

Mr. Murdough removed from Monson about 1765. 



84 



DAVID DUNCKLEE, Senior. 

David Duncklee, son of Hezekiah and Demaris Wilson 
Duncklee, was born in Billerica, Mass., August 26, 1746. He 
came to Souheg-an West with his father when young. He mar- 
ried Phebe Odall in 1766 ; and settled in Monson at a place 
about three-fourths of a mile southeast of INIilford springs on 
the Duncklee place. Here he built his log hut, cut down the 
forests, and commenced farming; on territory, where subse- 
quently throe townships cornered, viz : Hollis, Amherst and 
JNIilford. Mr. Duncklee was the ancestor of all the Duncklees 
in this section. 

His children were as follows : David, Jr., born in Monson, 
September 7, 1767; married Sally Hood, May 25, 1790; died 
May 1, 1833. Jacob, born in Monson. March 26, 1769; mar- 
ried first Abigail Hill, .Alarch 1, 1792, who died July 12, 1814, 
Amherst ; married second time, Rachel Lund, February 7. 1819 ; 
died August 26, 1842. Hezekiah, born in ]\Ionson. May 2, 
1771; married Betty Farley in 1792; residence Hillsboro and 
Hollis; left his family in 1818; went to New York and Illinois; 
married second time, a Mrs. Potter. Daniel, born April 3, 
1773; died August 31, 1775. Daniel, born in Monson, January 
26, 1776; married Ruth Boutelle, April 1, 1803; residence Mil- 
ford ; died February 24, 1856 ; married second time, Lydia Lund, 
October 2, 1821. Phebe, born in Monson. December 20, 1778 ; 
married Aaron Whitney, March 16, 1797; died January 31, 
1800. Hannah, born in Monson, April 21. 1781 ; married Wil- 
liam B. King, November -26, 1801 ; died January 27, 1855. 
John, born in Monson. September 5, 1784; married Lucretia 
Buell, February 21, 1808; residence Newport; died October 5, 
1832. Jesse, born in Monson. December 19, 1786; died April 
28, 1790. Elizabeth and Ebenezer. born May 10, 1789; Eliz- 
abeth married Joseph Pierce December 27. 1810; residence 
Merrimack; died August 9. 1855. Ebenezer. married Salome 
Wright. February 22, 1813 ; residence homestead ; died Septem- 



85 

ber 3, 1867. James, born in Monson, May 6, 1791 ; married 
Hannah Hall, December 31, 1812; residence South Merrimack; 
died July 23, 1854. Silas, born in Monson, January 8, 1794; 
married Sarah Thatcher, June, 1818, 

Mr. Duncklee died August 13, 1826, aged 80. Mrs. Phebe 
Duncklee, his wife, died January, 1839, aged 89. 



86 

HEZEKIAH DUNCKLEE. 

Hezekiah Duncklee, son of David and Phebe Odall 
Duncklee, was born in Amherst, May 2, 1771. He married 
Betsy Farley in 1792, and settled in the southwest part of 
Hillsboro, N, H, About 1813, he removed to Hollis, settling 
near Long pond. From here he left his family and went to 
New York about 1818; becoming involved in debt is supposed 
to be the cause. He was a basket-maker by trade. Mr. Dunck- 
lee went to Potsdam, where his two oldest sons were; from 
here he went to Ticonderoga after a few years' residence; while 
living at Ticonderoga, he married a Widow Potter for his sec- 
ond wife. He died here in 1857. 

His children were: Hezekiah, born in H^illsboro, Feb- 
ruary 14, 1793 ; married Eliza Tucker in 1841 ; residence Pots- 
dam and Addison, 111. ; died July 25, 1852. Elizabeth, born in 
Hillsboro, February 23, 1795; married Eben Shedd, August 5, 
1817 ; residence Hollis ; married second time, John Cutter ; died 
September 23, 1877. Ebenezer, born in Hillsboro, March 22, 
1797 ; married Amy Highley, January 24, 1824 ; residence Du 
Page Co., 111. ; married second time, Ruth L. Hanson, September 

9, 1853; died July 22, 1864. Leafy, born in Hillsboro, January 

17, 1799 ; married Ebenezer Farley, September 16, 1817 ; resi- 
dence Hollis ; died March 12, 1877. Roxana L., born in Hills- 
boro, April 30, 1801 ; married Samuel L. Hardy, August 19, 
1821 ; residence Hollis ; died November 7, 1835. Curtis, born 
in Hillsboro, June 3, 1803 ; married Rebecca Duncklee, October 

10, 1825 ; died September 26, 1857. Nancy, born in Hillsboro, 
May 8, 1806; married Augustus Ingalls, May 26, 1833; resi- 
dence Du Page County, Illinois ; died August 10, 1845. Lucinda, 
born June 3, 1808 ; married Leonard Coombs, November 16, 
.1 830 ; residence Hollis ; married second, Daniel Bixby, November 

18, 1855 ; residence Francestown ; died July 28, 1898. 

This family subsequently resided at the Cobbitt Place, 
North Hollis. Mrs. Betsey Farley Duncklee died at Corbett 
Mill, August 6, 1820. 



87 

CURTIS DUNCKLEE. 

Curtis Duncklee, son of Hezekiah and Betsy Farley 
Duncklee, was born in Hillsboro, N. H., June 3, 1803. He 
married Rebecca Duncklee, October 10, 1825. Mr. Duncklee 
was a farm laborer and cooper, and worked out most of the 
time, and always in limited circumstances. He resided in Mil- 
ford until about 1830 ; then settled on Mooar's hill at North 
Hollis, where he resided until 1837 ; in 1839 he settled on a 
little place at South Amherst. He went to Ticonderoga, N. Y., 
in the spring of 1841. His family followed him in the summer 
of 1812. He removed to Palo Linn Co., Iowa, in 1856, 

His children were as follows : Marietta, born in Milford, 
October, 1825; died November 2G, 1826. Martha, Jr., born in 
Milford, January 10, 1827 ; married Nathan Crossman, April 
21, 18-46; residence Crown Point; had 12 children; died June 
3, 1888. Daniel C, born in Milford, June 22, 1829; married 
Elizabeth Stackhouse, January 10, 18G6 ; residence Iowa ; died 
August 5, 1901. Nancy Alvira, born in Milford, February 7, 
1832 ; married Royal Z. Bennett, February 22, 1848 ; residence 
Horicon, N. Y. ; had 12 children. Hezekiah, born in Milford, 
November 20, 1836 ; died in March, 1865 ; soldier ; of small pox, 
in Iowa. Huldia Ann, born April 22, 1840 ; married Alonzo S. 
Kellogg, August 7, 1861 ; residence Iowa. Martin B., born in 
Milford, February 9, 1843; died in March, 1865, in Soldeirs 
Hospital, Helena, Ark. Cyrus E., born in Milford, December 
20, 1847, in Ticonderoga ; residence Iowa. 

Mr. Duncklee died September 26, 1857, at Palo Linn Co., 
Iowa. His wife, Rebecca, married for second husband, John 
Sharp, July 1862, and removed to near Shellsburg, Iowa, where 
she died, June 3, 1887. 



88 

JOSEPH GOULD. 

Joseph Gould, son of Richard Gould, born in Topsfield, 
Mass.,, in 1773. He came to Souhegan West with his father 
when about ten years old. Married Jane Burns of Monson, 
September 21, 175G, and settled in the south part of Monson 
village, since known as the Deacon Philip Wood place. He 
built a house that is still standing in 1909, the present owner 
being Almond Adams. Mr. Gould first built a log barn that 
was afterwards used by the town of Monson as a pound, and 
Mr. Gould was often chosen pound keeper at their annual town 
meetings. 

He was chosen second Selectman in 1769. Mr. Gould 
sold his farm to Abijah Gould, Sr., in the fall of 1777, and 
removed to Harvard, Mass. There is a record of the birth of 
a daughter, Susannah, born January 14, 1759, recorded in the 
old Monson records. 

Mr. Gould died in Harvard, January 1-5, 1809, aged 76. 

Mrs. Gould died in Harvard, June 10, 1834, aged 98. She 
was bom at sea during the passage of her parents from Ireland 
to this country in 1736. She was the daughter of John Burns 
of Ireland, who settled in W^est Dunstable in 1743. 



89 

ABTJAH GOULD, Senior. 

Abijah Gould, son of Adam and Elizabeth Butterfield Gould, 
was born in Chelmsford, Mass., December 12, 1735. He mar- 
ried Sarah Spaulding in 1767, a daughter of Phineas Spaulding 
of Nottingham 'West, who was born August 9, 1740. Shortly 
after he settled in Temple, N. H., occupying one of those moun- 
tain farms so famous in that town, being one of the early set- 
tlers there. 

Mr. Gould served in the war of the Revolution, in Capt. 
Gershom Drury's company, who with 36 other soldiers, marched 
from Temple, June 30, 1777, on the Ticonderoga alarm, and was 
in the service one month. Mr. Gould removed to Hollis in the 
autumn of 1777, residing at the Joseph Gould or Philip Wood 
place, that he had purchased and continued to occupy until he 
sold to Philip Wood about 1803, when he removed to Hollis 
village and resided with his son, the clock-maker, the remainder 
of his days. 

His children as found recorded at Temple were : William, 
born in Temple, March 1, 1769. Abijah, born in Temple, 
November 11, 1771; died young. Abijah, Jr., born in Temple, 
May 20, 1777; married first time, Mary Shattuck, October 10, 
1801; married second time, Mary T. Sargent, September 17, 
1807. 

Mr. Gould died at Hollis village, January 2, 1818, aged 82. 
Mrs. Sarah Gould, his wife, died in Rochester, N. Y., in 1821. 



90 

Deacon AMBROSE GOULD. 

Deacon Ambrose Gould, son of Daniel Gould of Green- 
field, N. H., was born in 1777. He married Sussannah Farley, 
February 17, 1802, and settled at Greenfield for a time, but 
removed to Mason, N. H., in 1803, and to HoUis early in 1808, 
and he was engaged in keeping a country store. He built the 
Edward Emerson house. Mr. Gould served the town as one 
of their Selectmen in 1812 and 1813, and as Moderator in 1816. 
He was appointed the first Postmaster of Hollis in 1818. His 
was the only store in the village for several years. 

About 1830, he removed to South Merrimack, (or Hard- 
scrabble as it was then called). He became Deacon of the church 
then recently organized there. 

His children were : Mary Ann, born November 1, 1802 ; 
married John Parker, April 17, 1828. Susan, born at Mason, 
January 17, 1804; died March 24, 1804. Suky, born at Mason, 
April 10, 1800; died November 7, 1807. William Ambrose, 
born in Hollis, March 1, 1808. John, born in Hollis, Novem- 
ber 10, 1809. Susan E., born in HolHs, November 22, 1811; 
married Nathan Kendall, Jr. ; residence. Concord. Frederick 
A., born in Hollis, February 11, 1814. Sarah B., born in 
Hollis, October 31, 1815. Charles O., born in Hollis, July 9, 
1818. George A., born in Hollis about 1830. 

Mr. Gould died at South Merrimack in 1842, age 65. 



91 

THOMAS PRATT. 

Thomas Pratt was born in 1740, He came to Hollis while 
a young man. He married Caty Cvimmings, daughter of 
Jarahmael and Plannah Farwell Cummings, September 27, 
1764. He belonged to the Hollis minute-men. In the war of 
the Revolution he served in Capt. Reuben Dow's company at 
Bunker Hill, and was wounded in the right arm at that battle. 

He enlisted early in 1777 into the Continental army, and 
was assigned to Captain House's company, Colonel Cilley's 
regiment, and remained in the service until June, 1783. Mr. 
Pratt was placed on the state roll of invalid pensioners June 
7, 1783, and continued until September 14, 1786. He married 
for his second wife, Anna Lawrence, who died January 1, 1806. 

His children were: David, born in Hollis, June 2, 1765; 
married Elizabeth Spalding, August 18, 1789 ; residence Ply- 
mouth. Caty, born in Hollis, May 9, 1767. Hannah, born in 
HolHs, July 29, 1769. Jerhmael, born in Hollis, April 12, 1772. 
Batty, born in Hollis, January 13, 1774. Molly, born in Hollis, 
June 19, 1776. Anna, born in Hollis, September 25, 1779. 
Stephen and Susannah, born October 24, 1784. John, born in 
HolHs, February 18, 1791. 

It is probable that Mr. Pratt went to Hebron. 



ABIJAH GOULD, Junior. 

Abijah Gould, Jr., the clock-maker, was the son of Abijah, 
Sr., and Sarah Spalding Gould, was born in Temple, N. H., 
May 20, 1777. He came to Hollis with his parents in the 
autumn of that year. In early life he learned the art of clock- 
makin<^, and commenced the manufacture of those tall kitchen 
clocks, the works being mostly made of wood, which he sold 
in all the country towns around him. Those clocks with 
"A, Gould" marked on the dial were seen in many a farm house. 

Mr. Gould married Mary Shattuck, a daughter of Zachariah 
Shattuck, Jr., October 10, 1804, and settled at Hollis village, 
where he continued to make and repair clocks and watches. 
His wife, Mary, died May 7, 1806. He married for his second 
wife, Mary T. Sargent of Milford, September 17, 1807. 

Mr. Gould became involved in debt and went to Rochester, 
N. Y., in the spring of 1821 or 1822. Some time after this, one 
of his creditors met him one day in Rochester, and says to him : 
"What! you away out here?" Yes, he says, and I wish I was 
ten thousand miles further tlian I am. 

The children of Mr. Gould were: Mary, born August 8, 
1805; died March 12, 1806. Benjamin, bom June 18, 1808. 
Phineas, born June 23, 1810. Sarah, born September 3, 1812. 
Lydia, born April 8, 1815. Mary Ann. born December 1, 1817. 
Lucy, born September 6, 1821. 



93 

EZEKEL PROCTOR, Junior 

Ezekel Proctor, Jr., son of Ezekel and Elizabeth Chamber- 
lain Proctor, was born in Weslford, Mass., in 1735. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth Proctor of Dunstable in 1760, residing- in West- 
ford until spring of 1772, when he settled in that part of Hollis, 
which is now Brookline, at a place known as the Pope place. 
He enlisted into the Continental army, and was in the service 
about five years or until spring of 1781. He belonged to the 
Hollis minute-men, who started for Concord and Lexington, 
April 19, 1775. He was at the battle of Bunker Hill. 

Mr. Proctor was a farmer in moderate circumstances, as 
was most of the early settlers. 

His children were : Ezra, born in 1761 ; enlisted into the 
Continental army; died from exposure, May 15, 1776. Eliz- 
abeth, born in 1763 ; married Jesse Perkins in 1781 ; residence 
Raby. Ezekel, bom in 1764 ; died in 1766. Mary, born in 
1766. Joseph, born in 1770. Abijah, born August 13, 1772; 

married ; residence homestead; died in 1827. Hannah, 

born December 16, 1774 ; died young. Ezra, born May 15 

1776. Hannah, born October 5, 1777. Esther, born January 
7, 1781. 

Mr. Proctor's father, Ezekel, came here and died here in 

1777. He married Elizabeth Chamberlain of Chelmsford, 
October 24, 1734. 



94 

JOSEPH HOOD. 

Joseph Hood, son of Nathan and Elizabeth Palmer Hood, 
was born in Topsfield, Mass., in 1746. He married Dorcas 
Hovey, October 13, 1767, residing in Topsfield until the spring- 
of 1780, when he settled in the north part of Hollis, but which 
became the southern part of Milford on the chartering of that 
town, in 1794. This place was known as the Daniel Duncklee 
place. Mr. Hood served in the war of the Revolution from 
Topsfield. 

Mr. Hood was a descendant of Richard Hood from Lynn 
Regis, England, who was born there about 1636. He migrated 
to this country in 1671, and settled at Topsfield, Mass. Mr. 
Hood was a farmer in moderate circumstances. 

His children were: Sarah, born in Topsfield, August 14, 
1768; married David Duncklee, Jr., in 1790; died in 1849. 
Joseph, Jr., born in Topsfield, November 28, 1769 ; married 
Elanor Woodbury, March 12, 1794 ; married second time, Dor- 
othy Kirk, March, 1829. Dorcas, born in Topsfield, February 
23, 1772; married Jacob Mooar, May 20, 1794; residence Hollis; 
died in 1851. Huldah, born in Topsfield, March 13, 1774 ; mar- 
ried William Peacock, November 1, 1795; residence Amherst; 
died September 17, 1861. Betty, born in Topsfield, August 24, 
1777; married Stephen Lovejoy, March 4, 1795; died May 15, 
1852. Susannah, born in Topsfield, June 10, 1781 ; married 
William Bacon, November 27, 1797; married second time, Wil- 
liam J. Doyle ; died March 5, 1843. Jeremiah, born in Hollis. 
October 14 ,1787; married Mary Warner in 1810; residence 
Milford ; died August 8, 1861. Charles, born in Hollis, August 
4, 1789. 

Mr. Hood died October 21, 1795, and is buried at North 
Yard in Hollis. 



95 



JOSEPH HOOD, Junior. 



Joseph Hood, Jr., son of Joseph and Dorcas Hovey Hood, 
was born in Topsfield, November 28, 1769. He married Eleanor 
Woodbury, March 12, 1794. He resided in Milford until about 
1840, when he removed to Deering, N. H. His wife, Eleanor, 
died prior to 1829, as in March of that year he married for 
his second wife, Dorothy Kirk of Henniker. Mr. Hood was a 
farmer in moderate circumstances. 

His children were as follows, 23 in number, viz : Samuel, 
born in Milford, October 7, 1794; married Sarah Blanchard, 
August 27, 1830; died September 3, 1873. Betsey, born in 
Milford, April 24, 1796. Dorcas, born in Milford, April 13, 
1798; married Timothy Blanchard, February 26, 1824. Eleanor, 
born in Milford, June 1, 1800; died prior to 1847. 
Joseph, born in Milford. July 24, 1801. Jeremiah, born 
in Milford, August 13, 1802; married Harriet Elkins; 
died November 11, 1882. Robert, born in Milford, De- 
cember 14, 1803 ; married Blood. John, born 

in Milford, March 2, 1805. Sarah, born in Milford, January 
25, 1807; married Elisha Swinington, January 31, 1844; resi- 
dence Mont Vernon. Charles, born in Milford, August 14, 
1808 ; married Elizabeth White. David, born in Milford, June 

22, 1810; married Mary Ann Gilchrist. Nancy, born in Mil- 
ford. March 13, 1812 ; married John B. Jones, March 19, 1843 ; 
died December 13, 1889. Daniel, born in Milford, November 

23, 1829; married Mary Langley, January 4, 1856. Harriet, 
born in Milford, April 4, 1831 ; married Sandford George. 
Susan, born in Milford, March 23, 1833; married John Hunt; 
married second time, Goorge Goodwin, of Hill. Andrew, bom 
in IMilford, June 14, 1835 ; married Martha C. Straw. Stephen, 
born in Milford, September 15, 1837. Hiram, born in Milford, 
October 25, 1839 ; went to sea about 1858 ; never heard from 
him. Allen R., born in Milford, April 8, 1842; married Ellen 
K. Keyes, May 28, 1868. Edward T., born in Milford, April 
29, 1844 ; enlisted into the army ; supposed to be killed by the 



96 

Indians. Eleanor, born in Milford, August 24, 1847 ; married 
George Tenney, September 20, 1870 ; residence Goffstown. 
John J., born in Milford, June 30, 1850. 

Mr. Hood died in Amherst, June 15, 1855, in his 86th year. 



97 

WILLIAM COLBURN, Junior. 

William Colburn, Jr., son of William and Margaret Woole^' 
Colburn, was born in Billenca, Mass., in 1726. He came to 
West Dunstable with hi? father in the spring of 1738. He mar- 
ried Abigail Wheeler, daughter of James Wheeler, July 26, 
1757, and settled at Patch Corner, one of the first settlers at this 
place. 

Mr. Colburn was in the old French war. He was engaged 
in farming as was most of the early settlers. His wife, Abigail, 
after his death, married for second husband, Gershom Hooart of 
Plymouth, October 20, 1783. Mrs. Colburn was married in 
Plymouth, N. H. 

His children were: Isabel, born in Monson, August 16, 
1758 ; married Reuben Hobart, February 7, 1788 ; residence 
Cockermouth. Paul, born in Monson, October 4, 1761 ; mar- 
ried Mehitable Ball in 1780; residence Groton, N. H. ; died 
February 17, 1825. William, born in Monson, June 8, 1764; 
married Phebe Hobart. Elias, born in Monson, 1762 ; married 
Mehitable Wheeler. Abel, born in Monson, March 2, 1767; 
married Elizabeth Bailey, November, 1791 ; residence, Groton, 
N. H. Peter, born in 1769. 

Mr. Colburn died at his home in Hollis, February 7, 1776. 
age 50. 



98 

ROBERT COLBURN, Junior. 

Robert Colbuni, Jr., son of Lieut. Robert and Elizabeth 
Smith Colburn, was born in Monson, April 29, 1748. He mar- 
ried Dorcas Upton of Wilmington. Mass., October 6, 1772, and 
settled on the road leading north from Patch Corner. Mr. 
Colburn owned and operated a saw mill on Witch brook, a por- 
tion of the time while living here. He was, as was his father 
before him, a large land holder. It was said of him that he 
would at different times, sell off in his old age, portions of 
his land, and lay out the proceeds in new rum and molasses, 
and drink it up. 

He was always behind the times, and said in Captain Patch's 
store at Skilteshire, that a last year's Almanac was as good as 
any for him, for he was always a year behind. 

His children were; Dorcas, born in Hollis, October 12, 
1773; married Joel How, November 20, 1807; residence Mil- 
ford; died in 1802. Robert, born in Plollis. April 4, 1775; mar- 
ried Keziah Wright, June 11, 1709; residence Holds; died in 
May, 1863. Peter, born in Hollis. October 31, 1776; married 
Rachel Patch. January 23, 1800; residence Milford ; died Jan- 
uar\' 7, 1852. Timothy, born in Hollis, August 10, 1778 ; mar- 
ried Mary Lovejoy, November 1, 1804; married second time, 
Rebecca Ball, January 4, 1804 ; married third time, Betsy Ball, 
October 6. 1812; died August 12, 1839. Hannah, born in 
Hollis, April 10. 1780; married John Kendall, February 25, 
1808; residence Hebron. Anna, born in Plollis, July 31, 1781; 
married David Hardy. October 11. 1804. Elizabeth, born in 
Hollis, January 16, 1783; died February 25, 1783. Washing- 
ton, born in Hollis. October 20, 1784; died July 22, 1785. 

Washington, born in Hollis, April 20, 1786; married ; 

residence Lowell. William, born in Hollis. March 2, 1789; 
married Rebecca Hardy, ALay 14, 1810 ; died December 22, 1830. 

Mr. Colburn died INIarch 28, 1819, aged 71. Mrs. Dorcas, 
his v^'ife, died at her daughter's, Mrs. How, in Milford, June 
27, 1829. 



99 

JOSIAH KIDDER, Senior. 

Josiah Kidder, Sr., son of Ephraim and Abigail Frost 
Kidder, was born in Billerica, Mass., January 18, 1717. He 
was the tenth in descent from Richard Kidder, who lived in 
East Grainstead, Sussex Co., England, as early as 1425. Mr 
Kidder married Hannah Patten in 1743, and settled at farming 
in the town of Tewksbury, Mass. His wife, Hannah, died May 
17, 1753. He married for second wife, Sarah French Kittredge 
in 1754, a widow of Daniel Kittredge, 3rd, and daughter of 
William French. Mr. Kidder removed to Monson, N. H., about 
May 1, 1767, and settled at a place known as Peacock village, 
now in the south part of Amherst. 

Mr. Kidder was a cabinet-maker by trade. The family was 
warned out of town by the Monson Selectmen, July 21, 1767. 

The children were : Josiah, Jr., born in Tewksbury in 
December, 1745 ; married . Hannah, born in Tewks- 
bury in 1747. Abigail, born in Tewksbury in 1750. Dorcas, 
born in Tewksbury in 1751. Jonathan, born in Tewksbury in 
1753. Daniel, born in Tewksbury in 1755 ; married Elizabeth 
Melenda, November 22, 1781. Sarah, born in Tewksbury in 
1757. Mehitable, born in Tewksbury in 1759. Betty, bom in 
Tewksbury in 1761; married Richard Clark, May 3, 1786; 
residence Milford; died November, 1816. Susannah, born in 
Tewksbury in 1763. 



100 

JOSIAH KIDDER, Junior. 

Josiah Kidder, Jr., son of Josiah and Hannah Patten 
Kidder, was born in Tewksbury, Mass., in December, 1745. He 

married , and shortly after settled in Monson, near 

his father's. He, too, was a cabinet-maker. He used to manu- 
facture coffins for the people in his vicinity, at two dollars and 
fifty cents each, and that was all the expense relatives were put 
to in burying a friend in that early period of the settlement. 
Mr. Kidder succeeded to the homestead used to sled in his 
hay, as did his father before him. His name appears on a 
petition to the General Court of New Hampshire, to re-estab- 
lish the old township of Monson, dated Amherst, May 23, 1782. 
This petition was signed by 40 resident citizens then living in 
the northern part of Hollis and southern part of Amherst. They 
contemplated having the middle of the town at Peacock village. 
The request was not granted. 

His children were: Lucy, born in Amherst in 1771; mar- 
ried Hezekiah Kendall, November 28, 1799 ; died July 29, 1813. 
Sally, born in Amherst in 1773 ; married Ebenezer Nutting, 

January 12, 1796. 1775 . Alice, born in 

Amherst in 1777 ; married Jonathan Spalding, Jr., in 1801 ; 
married second time, Simeon Blodgett in 1825. Josiah, 3rd, 
born in Amherst in 1779; married Hannah Nevins, December 
19, 1809; died May 28, 1849. Jonathan, born in Amherst in 
1781 ; married Susannah Hager, September 20, 1802, 



101 



JONATHAN POWERS. 

A veteran soldier of the old Colonial wars. Jonathan Pow- 
ers, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Whitcomb Powers, was born 
in Littleton, Mass., October 13, 1704. He married Bridget 

November 1, 1750, and settled in the Pine Hill section 

of Dunstable, near Hollis line, erecting his log hut and engaged 
in farming. Mr. Powers served in the old French war, in Capt. 
Peter Powers company, in the Crown Point expedition of 1755. 
In 1756, Mr. Powers enlisted into Capt. Jeduthan Balldings 
Company, regiment of Col. Josiah Brown, for the Crown Point 
expedition. He was taken sick at Lake George, got discharged 
with difficulty, and went to Albany. From there he traveled to 
Kingston and sent for a team to bring him home. He also served 
in the war of the Revolution in (Capt.) Dow's company, at 
Bunker Hill, He gave his age as sixty, when in fact he was 
over seventy. 

His children were, as taken from family record : Lois, born 
in Dunstable, April 30, 1755. Bridget, born in Dunstable, March 
25, 1757 ; married Joseph Farley, December 18, 1777 ; married 
for second husband Joseph Wheat, October 10, 1783. Jonathan, 
Jr., born in Dunstable, June 12, 1759 ; married Rebecca Woods, 
April 20, 1784; residence, Lancaster, Mass. Betsey, born in 
Dunstable, June 11, 1761 ; married Nathan Colburn, November 
5, 1801 ; residence, Temple, Jerusha, born in Dunstable, Sep- 
tember 22, 1763; married Henry Hale, January 1, 1783; resi- 
dence, Dunstable. John, born in Dunstable, March 9, 1765 ; mar- 
ried Hannah Brooks, November 38, 1793 ; died November 6, 

1815. Susannah, born in Dunstable, 1768 ; married 

Jabez Youngman, March 24, 1785. David, born in Dunstable, 
June 4, 1770; married Polly Blanchard, November 17, 1796; 
married for second wife, Lydia Adams, April 30, 1807. Anna, 

born in Dunstable, 1772, Lucy, born in Dunstable, 

June 24, 1775; married Jacob Woods; residence, Francestown, 
Jonas, born in Dunstable, January 14, 1777; married Rebecca 
Blood, February 28, 1799. Joseph, bom in Dunstable, February 



102 

3, 1783 ; married Esther Spaulding of Hollis, September 23, 
1803. Rebecca, born in Dunstable, April 20, 1785 ; married Jona- 
than Rideout, August 22, 1802; died Oct. 21, 1846; residence, 
Hollis. 

Mr. Powers buried his wife, Bridget, September 21, 1763, 
age 34, and married for his second wife, Susannah Willoughby, 
November 28, 1764. She died September, 1828. 

Children of Jonathan Powers as found recorded on a grave 
stone in the Pine Hill yard, Hollis : Hannah, born July 13, 1778 ; 
died in 1781. Noah, born June 25, 1781 ; died in 1785. Mehitable, 
born February 2, 1787 ; died February 6, 1787. 



103 
JACOB MOOAR. 

Jacob Mooar, son of Daniel and Annis Stevens Mooar, was 
born in Dunstable, April 8, 1761. He served in the war of the 
Revolution, was in Capt. John Gross's company at the battle of 
Bennington, August 16, 1777, and again in Capt, John Mill's 
company for three months in 1781. 

Mr. Mooar married Hannah Shattuck, January 15, 1784, 
and settled on the hill west of Pennichuck pond, place since 
known as Mooar's place or Parker pasture, residing here until 
about 1803, when he removed to the Cassidy place. Mr. Mooar 
was engaged in farming and coopering. He buried his wife 
September 14, 1791. He married for his second wife, Dorcas 
Hood of Milford, May 20, 1794. 

His children were : Jacob, Jr., born July 39, 1784 ; married 
Sarah Cummings, July 3, 1813. Abel, born January 35, 1786 ; 
went to sea, never heard from him after. Hannah, born October 
31, 1787 ; married Isaac Shattuck, September 17, 1807 ; died 
April 31, 1853. Nathan, born August 13, 1789 ; died January, 
1791. Gardner, born January 4, 1795 ; married Mary Hardy, 
June 8, 1820 ; died March 16, 1863. Colonel John, born August 
11, 1796 ; married Rebecca Abbott ; died March 31, 1869. Dor- 
cas, born August 31, 1798 ; married James Wheeler, April 33, 
1817; residence, Hollis; died August 35, 1885. Betsey, bom 
September 7, 1800 ; married Jesse Hardy, November 18, 1819 ; 
residence, Hollis ; died June 13, 1886. David, born April 15, 
1803; married Maria Cram in 1840. Jason, born January 1, 
1804; married Martha Crombe, July 17, 1833; died February 
3, 1868, N. Y. Louisa, born July 38, 1806; married Daniel 
Wyman, December 31, 1830; residence, Hillsboro, N. H. Luke, 
born July 18, 1808 ; married — in 1840 ; residence, Cov- 
ington, Ky. Sally, born July 8, 1810 ; married Leonard Farley, 
September 2, 1830; residence, Hollis; died February 28, 1881. 
Mark, bom Feb. 23, 1813 ; married Charlotte Wright, May 21, 
1835 ; married for second wife, Mrs. Sarah Ann Titus, March 
11, 1853; died February 1, 1890, Cincinnati. Daniel, born May 



104 

11, 1815; married Lydia Ann Southgate, May 9, 1844; residence, 
Covington, Ky. He was an eminent lawyer. 

Mr. Mooar died February 2, 1828. Mrs. Dorcas Mooar, 
his wife, died August 4, 1851, age 81. 



105 

SAMUEL FLETCHER. 

Samuel Fletcher, son of David and Mary Butterfield, was 
born in iWestford, Mass., in 1745. He married Olive Wright of 
Westford, January 15, 1771, and removed to New Ipswich, N. 
H., in spring of 1772. Mr. Fletcher was in the war of the 
Revolution, having enlisted into Capt. Joseph Parker's company 
for Concord and Lexington, helped to drive the British back to 
Boston. In the spring of 1792, Mr. Fletcher bought of Thomas 
Emerson, the farm on Witch Brook at North Hollis so long 
known as the Fletcher place, residing here the remainder of 
his days. 

An incident occurred in the life of Mr. Fletcher by which 
he acquired a cognomen, that he was ever after known by. One 
of his children being sick, the physician prescribed some squirrel 
broth. Mr. Fletcher replied: "Won't a rat do as well?" He 
was afterwards called rat Fletcher. 

His children were : Samuel, Jr., born in Westford in 1771, 
married ; residence, Lenster, Olive, born in New Ips- 
wich, N. H., in 1773, married Wright. Joel, born in 

1775, married ; residence, Lemster, N. H., Sally, born 

in New Ipswich, in 1777, married Knowlton. Ben- 
jamin, born in New Ipswich, in 1780, married Abigail Kittredge, 
May 16, 1804; residence, Acworth, N. H. Isaac, born in New 
Ipswich, in 1782, married Ruth Sargent, June 15, 1809 ; died 
April 9, 1815. Amos, born in New Ipswich, in 1784, married 
Abigail Towns in 1812 ; died November 2, 1853. 

Mr. Fletcher died February 5, 1822, aged 76. Buried at 
North Yard. Mrs. Fletcher, whom they called Granny Fletcher, 
died March 19, 1835. Age 86. 



106 

JOHN DUTTON, Junior. 

John Dutton, Jr., son of John and Rebecca Shedd Button, 
was born in Billerica, Mass., January 16, 1751. He came to 
Monson prior to January, 1770, as at that time he was warned 
out of town by the Monson selectmen. He married Rachel 
Stearns, May 1, 1871, and settled north of Peacock village in 
Amherst, He signed the petition for re-chartering the old town- 
ship of Monson in 1782. Mr. Dutton, and his two sons, Timothy 
and Samuel, served in the war of 1812, or the last war with 
Great Britain, as it was called. 

At some time prior to 1830, his buildings were removed, 
the barn was taken down and moved to the Spalding place at 
North HoUis, where it was used for a barn more than sixty years. 

His children were: Rachel, born August 27, 1781. Abigail, 
born January 2, 1783 ; married Jacob Abbott. John, born Oc- 
tober 16, 1785. Frances, born March 18, 1788. Timothy, born 
in 1790 ; died in the war of 1812. Samuel, born in 1792, married 
Mercy Gilmore in 1824. 

Mr. Dutton died January 17, 1829. His wife, Rachel, died 
in 1829. 



107 

Captain ISRAEL TOWNE. 

Capt. Israel Towne, a descendant of William Town of Yar- 
mouth, Norfolk county, England, where he resided in 1620. 
He migrated to this country prior to 1640, and settled in Salem, 
but removed to Topsfield, Mass., where he died in 1672, aged 
about 75. Captain Towne was born in Topsfield, March 24, 
1705. He married Grace Gardner, May 23, 1729, and settled 
in West Dunstable in the spring of 1740, on Madam Taylor's 
land in the Souhegan valley. 

(Capt.) Towne became a large land holder, and well-to-do 
farmer, ancestor of many of the Milford Townes. 

His children were: Thomas, born in Topsfield, in 1732, 

married Hannah . Archelaus, born in 1734, married 

Mary Abbott; married for second wife, Martha Abbott. Israel, 
Jr., born in 1736 ; married Lydia Hopkins ; residence, Amherst 
and Stoddard ; died April 28, 1813. Moses, born in 1738 ; mar- 
ried Mary Gray, December 3, 1761 ; residence, Amherst ; died 
February 9, 1824. Gardner, born in 1741 ; married Abigail 
Hopkins ; residence, Monson. 

Captain Towne died in Amherst, November 22, 1791, aged 
86 years and 8 months. 



108 

Captain ARCHELAUS TOWNE. 

Capt. Archelaus Towne, son of Capt. Israel and Grace 
Gardner Towne, was born in Topsfield, Mass., in 1734. He 
came to West Dunstable with his parents in 1740. He married 
first Mary Abbott of Methuen, Mass., a daughter of Ephraim 
Abbott in 1757, and soon afterward commenced tavern-keeping 
in Monson, at a place now known as Danforth's Corner in 
Amherst, where he kept the only Hotel Monson ever had, that 
we have any record of. Captain Towne was captain of colonial 
militia in this old township of Monson. He raised a company 
in Amherst and vicinity, and taking command of it, joined the 
Continental army. He was at Bunker Hill, at Bennington, in the 
northern campaign of 1777, and remained in the service until his 
death. He served the town of Monson as one of their selectmen 
and town clerk several years. He buried his wife about 1763, and 
mrried her youngest sister, Martha Abbott. 

His children were: Sarah, born in Monson, May 23, 1758. 
Archelaus, Jr., born July 13, 1760; married Esther Weston, Sep- 
tember 22, 1781. Susannah, born December 29, 1762; married 
Timothy Nichols, October 21, 1779; died December 22, 1840. 
Mary and Martha, born September 12, 1771 ; Mary, married 
Amos Dodge ; Martha, married Daniel Holt. 

Captain Towne died in the service at Fishkill, N. Y., in No- 
vember, 1779. His wife, Martha, died in November, 1773, in 
Amherst. 



109 

ELISHA TOWNE. 

Elisha Towne, son of William Towne, was born in Topsfield, 
September 5, 1708, He married Mary Foster, of Topsfield, June 
11, 1738 ; removed to Monson in 1748, where he and his brother. 
Captain Israel, had purchased land, of widow Abigail Taylor, 
in the Souhegan valley on which he settled. 

Later in life, Mr. Towne removed to Stoddard, N. H., 
where he held a land grant, and subsequently went to Alstead, 
N. H., where he was one of the early settlers and ancestor of the 
Townes of that section. 

His children were : Joseph, born in Topsfield, in 1739. Bar- 
tholomew, born in Topsfield, April 8, 1741. Thomas, born in 
Topsfield, February 8, 1743. Mercy, born in Topsfield, 

February 15, 1745. Sarah, born in Topsfield November 
20, 1747. Elisha, born in Topsfield, May 11, 1751; died young. 
Samuel, born in Topsfield, August 23, 1753. Mary, born in Tops- 
field, July 31, 1754. Elisha, Jr., born in Topsfield, May 9, 1760. 



110 

Lieutenant LEVI PARKER. 

Lieut. Levi Parker, son of William and Susannah Kemp 
Parker, was born in Groton, Mass., June 25, 1752. He married 
Rebecca Fletcher, December 11, 1777, and shortly after settled 
in Westford, Mass., as their village blacksmith, where he became 
an important personage. Mr. Parker was first (Lieut.) in a 
company of infantry, in the war of the Revolution, was at the 
battle of Bunker Hill. He buried his wife, Rebecca in 1784, 
then married Abigail Pool of Hollis, a daughter of WilHam 
Pool, June 12, 1785, and about twenty years later, removed to 
Hollis, N. H., and settled at Patch Corner, where he set up 
blacksmithing. Subsequently this became quite a business place ; 
a little village of a dozen farm houses, one store. Captain Patch's, 
one school house, one shoe shop, one cider-mill, and several 
cooper-shops. Here was the centre of trade for North Hollis, 
here was where the drum corps met, the Hollis old fifth Company 
on Infantry met here for drill. 

His children were : Levi, born in Westford in 1778 ; mar- 
ried Betsey Wright, September 22, 1803 ; residence, Charlestown. 
Billie, born in Westford in 1780 ; died young. George, born in 
1783 ; adopted by Isaac Wright of Dunstable, Mass., name 
changed to Wright when about 21 ; married Elizabeth Taylor, 
daughter of Deacon Samuel Taylor of Dunstable. James, born 
in Westford, in 1787; married Betsey Wright, December 28, 
1813, who died September 5, 1825 ; married for second wife, 
Susan Wood, July 13, 1827. Luther, born in 1789. Calvin, born 
in 1790 ; died in 1790. Betsey, born in 1792. 

Mr. Parker died September 5, 1825. 



Ill 

JOSIAH PARKER, Senior. 

Josiah Parker, Sr,, was born in 1722, a descendant of the 
distinguished (Deacon) Thomas Parker of Wiltshire, England, 
who came over in the ship, Susan Ellen, in 1635, and settled in 
Lynn, Mass. His settlement here became the original homestead 
of the Parker family, and remained in their possession until 
1822. Josiah Parker was a veteran of the old colonial war, 
having served in a company under the command of Colonel 
Joseph Blanchard, employed to scout and guard the inhabitants 
of the Merrimac river valley, against Indian invasion in 1755, 
from August 23, to November 16. Mr. Parker married Hannah 
Parkis, in June, 1754, settled in Reading and engaged in farming. 
He removed from Reading to Monson, N. H., in 1763, and set- 
tled on the Lieut. Benjamin Farley place, since known as the 
Parker place at North Hollis. Here he continued farming, ac- 
quiring a large landed estate which was originally included 
within the Timothy Rogers grant. Mr. Parker became a well-to- 
do farmer, and a respected citizen of the town. 

His children were: Hannah, born in Reading, in 1756 ; died 
young. Lydia, born in Reading, in 1758 ; married David French, 
March 5, 1778; residence, Bedford, N. H. ; died April 8. 1793. 
Josiah, Jr., born in Reading, May 8, 1760 ; married Sarah Spald- 
ing, November 29, 1792 ; she died in 1803 ; married for second 

wife, Abigail Peacock. Sarah, born in 1762 ; married 

Jesse Worcester, in June, 1782 ; residence, Hollis ; died April 1, 
1847. Hannah, born in Monson in 1765 ; married Francis Wor- 
cester, Jr., February 10, 1785 ; married for second wife. Moody 
Cooke ; residence, Plymouth. Captain Isaac, born March 3, 1769 ; 
married Olive Abbott, February 6, 1794; residence, homestead; 
died December 2, 1857. 

Josiah Parker died at his home October 21, 1800, in the 
79th year of his age. Mrs. Hannah Parker, his widow, died 
January 3, 1825 ; age 95. Buried in church yard. 



112 

JOSIAH PARKER, Junior. 

Josiah Parker, Jr., son of Josiah and Hannah Parkis Parker, 
was born in Reading, Mass., May 8, 1760. He came to Monson 
with his parents in the spring of 1763. He married Sarah 
Spalding, daughter of Rev. Samson Spalding of Tewksbury, 
Mass., November 29, 1792. He resided at the Jeremiah K. Need- 
ham place near Pennichuck pond at North Hollis. In an evil 
moment Mr. Parker entangled in an ugly, and very disagreeable 
law suit, from which to extricate himself, he brought suit in the 
courts, and as no one appeared against him, the case was nol 
prossed ; this took the matter from the court. 

Mr. Parker buried his wife, Sarah, October 28, 1803, and 
married for his second wife, Miss Abigail Peacock of Amherst, 
a daughter of William Peacock, in 1804. Mr. Parker resided 
a portion of the time at Pine Hill, in Hollis, and in the east 
part of Amherst. 

His children were: Abigail, born in Hollis, October 6, 1804; 
niarried Nathan Jewett, March 12, 1829 ; died August 7, 1831. 
Josiah M., born in Hollis, September 19, 1805. Sarah, born in 
Hollis, October 25, 1806 ; died June 9, 1861, aged 55. Hannah, 
born in Hollis, March 31, 1808 ; married Nathan Dane. Thomas 
B., born October 15, 1810 ; married Mary Hildreth. Lydia W., 
born June 20, 1812; married Peltiah Fletcher; died March 17, 
1904. 

Mr. Parker died in Amherst, September 29, 1845, aged 85. 



113 

Captain ISAAC PARKER. 

Capt. Isaac Parker, son of Josiah, Sr., and Hannah Parks 
Parker, was born in Monson, March 2, 1769. He married Olive 
Abbott of Milford, February 6, 1794, and succeeded to the home- 
stead, engaged in agricultural pursuits, at North Hollis. He 
raised as much rye as any man in Southern New Hampshire, 
raising over two hundred bushels to sell in 1814, carrying it to 
Amherst, where he received, two dollars and twenty-five cents a 
bushel. Mr. Parker was a large land holder, and was con- 
sidered one of the wealthy farmers of his day. 

He was quite prominent in military afifairs. He was captain 
of the old infantry company in Hollis about 1804. Mr. Parker 
rode up on the king post at the raising of Hollis meeting-house 
in 1804. It was mainly through his influence and effort that 
the church and society were established at South Merrimac. 

His children were : Olive, born June 27, 1795 ; married 
Jeremiah K. Needham, April 18, 1816. Hannah, born May 29, 
1797; died November 2, 1816, age 19. Achsah, born June 24, 
1799 ; married John B. Hill, August 29, 1829. Isaac, born April 
12, 1801 ; died August 20, 1813, aged 12. John, born July 30, 
1803; married Mary Ann Gould, April 17, 1828. 

Mr. Parker died December 22, 1857, aged 88. Mrs. Olive, 
his wife, died January 2, 1862, aged 89. 



114 

ISAAC COBBETT. 

Isaac Cobbett, son of , was born in Londonderry 

in 1776. He married Achsah , in 1801, and removed 

from Derry to Hollis, settling at the French place on Witch 
brook, at North Hollis, where he repaired the mill so long known 
as the Cobbett Mill, and engaged in carding wool and fulling 
cloth. In those days the farmers all kept sheep, and raised 
their own wool. Mr. Cobbett's mill was well patronized ; nearly 
the whole population then wore home spun goods. 

Mr. Cobbett was somewhat eccentric, in that he would go 
through the neighborhood with his account book under his arm 
ostensibly to collect his bills, but really to get a mug of cider 
at each house. He carried on the carding business here, from 
1801 to 1820, when he removed to Greenfield, N. H., and settled 
south of the village, on the David Patterson land, where he built 
a mill, and continued the carding and fulling business. 

His children were : Achsah, born in Hollis, February 10, 
1803 ; died same day. Isaac, born in Hollis, November 15, 1804. 
Lewis, born in Hollis. Achsah, born in Hollis. Clarissa, bom 
in Hollis, May 18, 1809. 



115 

ABIJAH WOOD. 

Abijah Wood, son Stephen and Lydia Phillips Wood, was 
born in Dracut, Mass., in 1743. He married Esther Lewis of 
Billerica, Mass., March 23, 1764. She was born May 28, 1744, 
daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Jaquith Lewis. Mr. Wood 
served in the war of the revolution, enlisting into the Lexington 
company under command of Captain John Parker, was in the 
fight of April 19, 1775. When Major Pitcarn with the British 
troops rode up to Lexington common, Captain Parker told his 
men to stand their ground, don't fire unless fired upon, but if 
they mean to have war, let it begin here. Mr. Wood resided in 
Dracut until about 1800, when he removed to Hollis, N. H., 
and residing with his son, Hiram, until Hiram died in 1816, at 
the General French place; then with his son, Philip, in his 
old age. 

His children were: Esther, born in Dracut in 1766; married 

Farwell ; residence, Tyngsboro. Rhoda, born in Dracut 

in 1768 ; married Jesse Hardy in 1793 ; residence, Hollis ; died 

December 8, 1810. Sybil, born in , 1771; died by 

drowning at the age of 14. Mary, born in Dracut in 1774; 
married David Willoby, March 17, 1796; died April 15, 1851. 
Sally, born in Dracut in 1776 ; married Benjamin Barron, June 
9, 1796. Hiram, born in Dracut in 1779 ; married Elizabeth 
Cheever in 1799 ; residence, Hollis ; died March 5, 1816. Deacon 
Philip, born January 14, 1781 ; married Dorothy Davis, February 
3, 1801 ; residence, Hollis ; died January 14, 1857, age 76. Lewis, 
bom December 24, 1783 ; married Mary Flint in 1805 ; residence, 
Hollis ; died July 16, 1835, age 51. 

Mrs. Esther, wife of Abijah Wood, died September 24, 1819, 
age 75. Mr. Abijah Wood, died September 25. 1819, aged 76. 
Buried in North Yard, Hollis, New Hampshire. 

Benjamin Wood, of Amesbury, England, married Mary Pat- 
ten and emigrated to this country in 1635, and settled in New 
Bedford, Mass. He 'had a son, Stephen, who was the father 
of Stephen here in mention. 



116 

Captain EBENEZER KENDALL, Junior. 

Capt. Ebenezer and Hannah Hasey Kendall, was born in 
Woburn, Mass., October 5, 1736. He married Martha Walton 
of Reading, February, 1762, and soon removed to Hollis, N. H., 
and settled in the east part of the town, where he resided several 
years. Little is known of 'him except of his being engaged in 
ordinary farming, while living in Hollis. He removed to Plym- 
outh, N. H., before the Revolution, about the year 1773. He 
was taxed as a non-resident in Plymouth, N. H., from 1779 to 
1791. Capt. Kendall's father, Lieut. Ebenezer Kendall, was a 
descendant of the emigrant ancestor, Francis Kendall, who came 
from England, prior to 1640, and shortly after settled in Woburn, 
Mass. 

He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery 
company of Boston, and was a lieutenant in the Indian wars. 

Capt. Kendall's children were : Ebenezer, Jr., born in Hollis, 
May 11, 1765. Martha, born in Hollis, June 26, 1767. John W., 
born in Hollis, December 16, 1769 ; married for second wife 
Hannah Colburn, February 25, 1808 ; residence, Hebron. Hasey, 

born in Hollis, June 2, 1772; married Elsie Morey ; 

residence, Hebron, N. H. ; died May 4, 1825. 

(Capt.) Kendall died in Hebron, November 2, 1802. 

Mr. Kendall resided in Hebron after its incorporation, June 
15, 1792. 



iir 

HEZEKIAH KENDALL. 

Hezekiah Kendall, Jr., son of Hezekiah and Patience Ken- 
dall, was born in Wilmington, Mass., October 15, 1766, a twin 
brother of Enoch Kendall. He married Abigail Marshall, a 
daughter of Isaac Marshall, of Billerica, November 1, 1792, and 
immediately moved to North Hollis, settling at Janothan Danforth 
Mill. This place in after years became known as Kendall Mills. 
This property he had purchased in October, 1791, by the aid of 
Isaac Marshall. Mr, Kendall dug the canal and built the saw-mill 
about 1800. He was a bold, out-spoken man of positive ideas. He 
took a great interest in national and state affairs. He was an ardent 
Democrat of the John Randolph and Tom Benton school. "I 
vum!" he would say, "they are for everlastingly quarreling there 
m Congress." Mr. Kendall buried his wife, September 11, 1799, 
and married for his second wife, Lucy Kidder, of Amherst, 
November 28, 1799. She died July 29, 1813, age 42. He sub- 
sequently married a widow, Mrs. Read, of Pepperell. 

His children were: Abigail, born in Hollis, August 26, 
1793 ; married Israel Cram, July 9, 1818 ; residence, Lyndeboro. 
Hezekiah, Jr., born in Hollis, January, 1796 ; served in war in 
1812; residence, in northern New York. Anne, born in Hollis, 
August, 1799 ; was drowned July 31, 1802. Infant, born in 
Hollis, August 14, 1800 ; died same day. Luther, born in Hollis, 
May 15, 1802 ; married Esther Kittredge in 1827. Lucy, bom 
in Hollis, March 15, 1804; died unmarried at Lowell. Willard, 
born in Hollis, January 7, 1806 ; married Nancy Peacock, August 
25, 1831. Walter, born in Hollis, July 11, 1808 ; died while young. 
Alice, bom in Hollis, , 1810 ; died unmarried at Lowell. 

Mr. Kendall was killed by Rufus Orcutt, March 28, 1833, 
age 67. Mr. Orcutt was in liquor at the time Mr. Kendall duned 
him for house rent. 



118 

LUTHER KENDALL. 

Luther Kendall, son of Hezekiah and Lucy Kidder Kendall, 
was born in Hollis, May 15, 1803. He married Esther Kittredge, 
daughter of Daniel Kittredge of Marrimac in August, 1837, 
and settled at the Cobbett place on Witch Brook, at North Hollis. 
He carried on the carding and fulling business in connection 
with his cabinet trade here until 1833, when he removed to East 
Wilton, and engaged in carrying on a grist Mill, June 4, 1843, 
he removed to Hardwick, Vt., on to a farm he had purchased 
containing a large amount of wood and timber. 

Mr. Kendall worked at cabinet trade while living in Hollis. 
I have in my possession several articles of furniture of his manu- 
facture. He resided at Hardwick during the remainder of his life. 

His children were: John Willard, born in Hollis, March 
13, 1838. Daniel Walter, born in Hollis, May 4, 1839. Lucy 
Ann, born in Hollis, June 5, 1830. Mary Jane, born in Hollis, 
February 10, 1833. Jackson Miller, born in Wilton, May 13, 
1834. 

Mr. Kendall died at Hardwick, September 7, 1875. He was 
buried at Montpeher. Mrs. Kendall died at Bloomington, Neb., 
February 36, 1891 ; buried in Montpelier. 



119 

WILLARD KENDALL. 

Willard Kendall, son of Hezekiah and Lucy Kidder Kendall, 
was born in Hollis, January 7, 1806. He assisted his father in 
the work about the mills in his minority. He married Nancy 
Peacock, daughter of William Peacock, Jr., of Amherst, August 
25, 1831, and settled on the homestead estate, on Witch Brook, 
at North Hollis, building a house at the foot of sand hill, now 
occupied by Maria Hill. He remained here until spring of 183(3, 
when he purchased a farm in the west part of Milford, N. H., 
and removed there where he spent most of his days. While living 
in Hollis, he was an ardent Andrew Jackson Democrat ; but 
after moving to Milford, I thinl<; in the Presidential campaign 
of 1840, he became a zealous Whig, and later a Liberty Party 
man. Mr. Kendall was the last of his family to leave Hollis. The 
Kendalls maintained a reputation for fairness and honesty in all 
their dealings throughout the forty odd years in which they 
were doing business here. 

His children were: Huldah Ann, born in Hollis, October 
39, 1832 ; married Joel W. Hamblet, January 5, 1854 ; residence, 
Milford. Carrie Sarah, born in Hollis, December 10, 1834 ; 
married Daniel W. Burns, December 25, 1860 ; residence, Mil- 
ford. Nancy Jane, born August 20, 1836 ; married Abel Fisk, 
December 15, 1865 ; residence, Vineland, N. J. Lucy Maria, 
born in Milford, April 13, 1838; died June 18, 1861. William 
P., born in Milford, August 19, 1841; died in Beaufort, S. C, 
Aug. 19, 1862. Albert Freeman, born in Milford, February 5, 
1844 ; married Cora Temple, February 9, 1873 ; residence, Vine- 
land. 

Mr. Kendall died in Milford, April 9, 1886, age 80. Mrs. 
Kendall died in Groton, Mass., September 16, 1883. 



130 

WILLIAM KITTREDGE, Senior. 

William Kittredge, St., son Daniel 3rd and Sarah French 
Kittredge, was born in Tewksbury, Mass., January 29, 1747. He 

married Abigail in 1771, and settled in Tewksbury. 

He served in the war of the Revolution from Tewksbury. Mr. 
Kittredge resided here until about 1783, when he removed to 
Goffstown, N. H., where he had come into possession of a tract 
of wild land. He cleared off a portion and erected his log hut, 
remaining here until the fall of 1794, when he exchanged farms 
with Abraham Leeman of North Hollis, a place near Kendall 
Mills. 

Mr. Kittredge and Mr. Leeman traded places even, real 
estate personal property and all one object he had in view in 
coming to Hollis was to live near his kinsman, Hezekiah Kendall. 

His children were : William, Jr., born in Tewksbury, in 
1772; married Mary Spalding, September, 1796; residence, Hol- 
lis ; died October 16, 1847. Kendall, born in Tewksbury, in 1774 ; 
married Sally Whiting, September 19, 1797. Daniel, born in 
Tewksbury in 1776; married Esther Foster; residence, Merrimac. 
Baninmin, born in Tewksbury in 1778 ; married Rebecca Far- 
well ; residence, Merrimac. Abigail, born in Tewksbury, in 
1790; married Benjamin Fletcher, May 16, 1804; residence, 
Acworth. 

Mr. Kittredge died October 18, 1815, age 68. He was buried 
in the North Yard, Hollis. Mrs. Abigail, his wife, whom they 
called Granny Kittredge, died October 19, 1843, aged 93. 



121 

WILLIAM KITTREDGE, Junior. . 

William Kittredge, Jr., son of William and Abigail Kit- 
tredge, was born in Tewksbury, Mass., in August, 1772. He went 
to Goffstown with his parents when about ten years old, and 
removed to Hollis with them in the Autumn of 1794, and settled 
at the Abraham Leeman place at North Hollis. Mr. Kittredge 
married Mary Spalding, daughter of Jonathan Spalding in Sep- 
tember, 1796. It was said that he went courting barefoot, wear- 
ing his leather apron. He succeeded to the homestead, taking 
care of his father and mother. Mr. Kittredge was always in 
moderate circumstances and somewhat addicted to drinking ar- 
dent spirit, as he called it. He would sell off small pieces of real 
estate to furnish means of subsistence, and say that he was 
going onto the town honorably. 

His children were : Mary, born in Hollis, July 19, 1797 ; died 
young. William, born in Hollis, January 10, 1800; died young. 
Abel, born in Hollis, January 7, 1803 ; died September 11, 1825, 
at Londonderry. Abial, born in Hollis, in 1804 ; killed by the 
falling of a tree in 1808. Achsah, born in Hollis in 1806 ; died 
young. Ralph Dana, born in Hollis, September 12, 1807; died 

suddenly September 11, 1841. Esther, born in Hollis, , 

1810 ; died young. Abiel, born in Hollis, , 1813 ; died 

young. 

Mr. Kittredge died October 16, 1847, age 75; buried in 
North yard. Mrs. Mary, his wife, died August 29, 1850. Aged 
75. Buried in North Yard. 



133 



JONATHAN SPALDING, Senior. 

Jonathan Spalding, son of Rev. Samson and Mehitable Hunt 
Spalding, was born in Tewksbury, Mass., September 15, 1747. 
He married Mary Marshall, daughter of Thomas and Mary 
Marshall, of Tewksbury, February 11, 1771. He was engaged 
in farming and milling. He sei^ved in the war of the Revolution, 
in Captain Brown's company, April 19, 1775, in the Concord 
and Lexington fight. He purchased part of the Spalding place 
of Samuel Leeman, Jr., at North Hollis, N. H., under date of 
January 5, 1775, and removed to Hollis in May, 1775, where he 
carried on a saw-mill With Jonathan Lund. He removed to 
Wilton, N. H., in the spring of 1794. He had two sisters residing 
at Wilton. 

His children were: Abiel, born in Tewksbury, September 
14, 1771; married Susannah Marshall, September 21, 1797; 
residence, Hollis and Vermont; died December 8, 1861, age 90. 
Abel, born in Tewksbury, November 37, 1773 ; married Rebecca 

Ober, 11, 1799; residence, Hollis and Milford; died 

July 5, 1856; age 83. Mary, born in Hollis, N. H., August 
24, 1775 ; married William Kittredge, September, 1796 ; residence, 
Hollis ; died July 29, 1850 ; age 75. Ann, born in Hollis, Novem- 
ber 30, 1777 ; married James Hutchingson, September 34, 1834 ; 
residence, 'Wilton; died August 31, 1860, age 83. Jonathan, Jr., 
born in HolHs, October 39, 1779; married Alice Kidder in '18; 
residence, Hollis and Wilton ; died November 9, 1819, age 40. 
Asaph, born in Hollis, August 3, 1783 ; married Abiah Bowers, 
March 8, 1807 ; residence, Hollis and Peterboro ; died September 
13, 1873, age 91. Hannah, born in HolHs, September 14, 1784; 
married Joseph Colburn, August 39, 1834 ; residence, Milford ; 
died July 7, 1843, age 58. Loammi, born in Hollis, August 33, 
1786 ; married Ednah Shedd, April 6, 1811 ; married for second 
wife, Esther Wright; residence, Hollis and Temple, N. H. 
Achsah, born in Hollis, September 3, 1788 ; married John Kim- 
ball, November 26, 1839 ; residence, Temple ; died in 1878, age 90. 
Samson, born in Hollis, August 14, 1790 ; married Ruth Ball, 



133 



June 27, 1814; residence, Wilton. Mehitable, born in Hollis, 
August 14, 1790; died July 10, 1833, unmarried; residence, 
Wilton, age 43. John, born in Hollis, October 18, 1792 ; married 
Eunice S. Russell, June 4, 1817; residence, Mason; died Novem- 
ber 9, 1837. Lucinda, born in Hollis, March 11, 1794 ; married 
Oliver Shattuck, March 9, 1842 ; residence, Vermont ; died in 
1886, age 92. 

Mr. Spalding died in Wilton, September 30, 1832, age 85. 
Mrs. Mary Spalding, his wife, died in Wilton in 1839, age 89. 

The official evidence that Jonathan Spalding served in the 
war for Independence is to be found in the revised edition of 
the Spalding Memorial, pages 175 and 1023. 



124 

ABIEL SPALDING. 

Abiel Spalding, son of Jonathan, Sr., and Mary Marshall 
Spalding, was born in Tewksbury, Mass., September 14, 1771. 
He came to HoUis with his parents in May, 1775, and remained 
with them during his minority and succeeded to the old home- 
stead situated in the Witch Brook valley at North Hollis, upon 
his father's removal to Wilton in the spring of 1794. Mr. Spald- 
ing married Susannah Marshall, September 21, 1797. He con- 
tinued to reside at the old homestead until about 1802, when he 
removed to what has been known as the Stephen Love joy place, 
near Wheeler Village, in Hollis, or as it was called the Depo in 
Shabkin. He sold this farm to his brothers Asaph and Jonathan, 
Jr., in 1817. He soon after removed to Derry, or Londonderry, 
Vermont, where he purchased a large farm, within the confines 
of the Green Mountains, residing here during the rest of his 
life. Mr. Spalding was a strong Jeffersonian Republican. 

His children were: Susannah, born May 4, 1798; married 

Jonas Keyes ; residence, Tyngsborough, Mass. Abiel, 

born November 22, 1799, in Hollis, at the old homestead ; died 
young. Elizabeth, born January 4, 1801 ; married Jefferson 
French, February 9, 1826 ; residence, Holliston, Mass. Leonard, 
born March 14, 1802 ; married Sarah W. Lawrence, February 2, 
1826 ; residence, Somerville, Mass. ; died February 3, 1863. 
Sophia, born January 20, 1804 ; married George Waite, Julv 3, 
1839 ; residence, Londonderry, Vt. Jonathan, born March 29, 
1805. Asaph, born February 28, 1807 ; died unmarried ; residence. 
Homestead, Vt. Joel Rodney, born February 12, 1809 ; suc- 
ceeded to the homestead in Londonderry, Vt. ; died October 
15, 1860. Elbridge Gerry, born August 25, 1810; married 
Dorcas Goodridge, May 10, 1835 ; residence, Nashua, N. H., 
died October 15, 1860. Anna, born June 24, 1812 ; married John 

Pond ; residence, Athol, Mass. Charles, born March 

11, 1814; died young. Abiel, born September 10, 1816. John, 
born October 7, 1818 ; died young. 

Mr. Spalding died in Derry or Londonderry, Vt., December 
8, 1861, aged 90. The children were all born in Hollis. 



VZo 
ABEL SPALDING. 

Abel Spalding, son of Jonathan, Sr., and Mary Marshall, 
was born in Tewksbury, November 27, 1773. He came to HoUis 
with his parents in May, 1775. He married Rebecca Ober, a 
daughter of Samuel Ober, October 11, 1799. He was a farmer, 
and continued to reside at the old place at North HoUis, until 
the spring of 1809, when he removed to Milford, N. H., where 
he continued to reside the remainder of his days. He was engaged 
in farming on one of those nice farms of Milford. 

Mr. Spalding was always a supporter of Whig principles, 
an adherent of Henry Clay, and brought his boys up well 
grounded in the faith. 

His children were : Abel, Jr., born in Hollis, April 23, 1800 ; 
married Hannah D. King, February 20, 1823 ; died May 28, 1877. 
Rebecca, born in Hollis, March 5, 1802 ; married Frederick 
Crosby, November 22, 1825; died May 6, 1828. Ira, born in 
Hollis, July 28, 1804; married Adaline N. S. Fullerton, April 
27, 1831 ; died April 11, 1856. Lucinda, born in Hollis, August 
19, 1806 ; married John Smith, Jr., September 14, 1826 ; residence, 
Milford; died April 9, 1829. Eri, born in Hollis, February 20, 
1809 ; married Almira Spalding, March 5, 1835 ; residence, Peter- 
boro; died December 24, 1884. Samuel, born in Milford, June 11, 
1811; married Mary jWrught, September 7, 1834; residence, 
Nashua ; died January 10, 1864. Mary, born in Milford, Novem- 
ber 5, 1813; died October 11, 1814. 

Mr. Spalding died in Milford, July 6, 1856. Mrs. Rebecca 
Spalding, his wife, died July 15, 1859. 



126 

JONATHAN SPALDING, Junior. 

Jonathan Spalding-, Jr., son of Jonathan and Mary Marshall 
Spalding, was born in Hollis, October 29, 1779. He married 

Alice Kidder , and succeeded to the old homestead on 

Witch Brook at North Hollis, carrying on for several years, in 
company with Jonathan Lund, the saw-mill at the old Spalding 
place. Politically he was an adherent of old John Adams, and a 
supporter of Federal principles generally and wore the party in- 
signia, the cockade, on his hat. This had the eflFect to bring on a 
political discussion with the other members of his family, who 
out of fourteen in number only one other was of like political 
pursuasion. Mr. Spalding resided at the old homestead until 
August, 1810, when he removed to Wilton, N. H., to care for 
his parents. 

His children were : Alice, born in Hollis ; married 

Jonathan Clifford, Dec. 19, 1832 ; residence, Plymouth. Jonathan 
K., born . Jane, born . Asa, bom . 

Mr, Spalding died in Wilton, November 9, 1819, aged 40. 
Mrs. Alice Kidder Spalding, widow of Jonathan, Jr., married 
for her second husband, Simeon Blodgett, in 1825, of Plymouth, 
N. H., and removed there. Mr. Blodgett died in Plymouth, 
January 15, 1829, and his widow Alice, married Jonathan Cum- 
mings, November 13, 1834, for her third husband. She died 
March 27, 1844. 



127 

ASAPH SPALDING. 

Asaph Spalding, son of Jonathan and Mary Marshall Spald- 
ing, was born in Hollis, August 2, 1782. He married Abiah Bow- 
ers of Dracut, Mass., March 8, 1807. He learned the coopers' 
trade and while young worked at his trade in Cambridge Port, 
in Portland, Maine, and Eastport, Maine, Mosquito Har- 
bor and Harbley-Tong in the British possessions. Later 
he worked for his uncle, John Marshall of Chelmsford, 
where Lov/ell now is, making beef and rum barrels, residing 
there until the spring of 1808, when he returned to his native 
homstead at North Hollis. Here he carried on coopering, farm- 
ing and hop raising. He raised as much rye as any one in this 
section. He was well versed in the art of pigeon catching. His 
was the first artificial trout pond made in Hollis, 

Mr. Spalding sold the old Spalding homestead to WilHam 
Butterfield in 1848, and removed to Danforth Corner, residing 
here until 1850, when he removed to Peterboro, N. H., where he 
resided until 1872. He then came back to Holhs, and resided 
the remainder of his days. 

His children were : Asaph Summer, born in Lowell, Sep- 
tember 13, 1807; married Hannah Colburn, April 14, 1830; 
died August 13, 1885. Sarah Ann, born in Hollis, December 4, 
1808 ; died unmarried at Lowell, November 5, 1844. Almira, 
born in Hollis, May 22, 1811; married Eri Spalding, March 5, 
1835 ; residence, Peterboro. Achsah, born in Hollis, January 
14, 1814 ; married Warren D. Searles, April 10, 1838 ; residence, 
Nashua. John Bowers, born in Hollis, May 25, 1816 ; died 
August 16, 1816 ; buried in North Yard. Herbert, bom in Hollis, 
February 13, 1817; died December 3, 1834. Buried in North 
Yard. Mary, born in Hollis, September 20, 1820 ; died unmarried 
in Temple, July 6, 1879. Charles, born in Hollis, November 28, 
1824 ; died July 20, 1825. 

Mrs. Asaph Spalding died in Peterboro, June 6, 1864. Mr. 
Asaph Spalding died in Hollis, September 12, 1873, age 92, 



128 

LOAMMI SPALDING. 

Loammi Spalding, son of Jonathan, Sr., and Mary Marshall 
Spalding, was born in Hollis, August 22, 1786. He went to 
Wilton with his parents in 1794. He married Ednah Shedd, April 
6, 1811, and settled at the old Spalding homestead at North Hollis. 
He engaged in farming, raising large crops of rye on those pine 
plains, which he found ready sale for, during the war of 1812 
and '14. Mr. Spalding buried his wife, March 19, 1816, and 
selling his undivided half of the old homestead to his brother, 
Samson, 'he removed to Temple, N. H., and settled on one of 
those side-hill farms at the base of Temple mountain, where he 
resided the remainder of his life. He married Esther Wright of 
Hollis, May 6, 1817, who died February 10, 1818. Mr. Spalding 
married for his third wife in 1820, Esther Marshall, of Jaffrey, 
N. H. Mr. Spalding was of the old school, a typical New Eng- 
lander. 

His children were: Jacob S., born in Hollis, August 24, 
1811; married Mary W. Taylor, August 24, 1841. Mark N., 
born in Hollis, October 22, 1812; married Hannah W. Taylor, 
'November 15, 1842. Loammi B., born in Hollis. February 9, 
1814 ; died August 28, 1817. Ednah S., born in Hollis, February 
14, 1816 ; died April 29, 1816. Ednah E., born in Temple, Febru- 
ary 6, 1818; married Samuel M. Merriam ; residence. Mason. 
Jonathan M., born in Temple, August 4, 1821 ; married Abby F. 
French, January 27, 1852. 



129 

EDWARD SPALDING. 

Edward Spalding, a grandson of that Puritanical old New 
Englander, Deacon Andrew Spalding, and a son of Benoni and 
Rebekah Spalding, was born in Billerica, Mass., May 8, 1727, 
residing here until after his marriage with Susannah Crosby, of 
Billerica, January 1, 1750, when he removed to Hollis, N. H., in 
1775, settling in the east part of the town, near the Poor Farm 
place. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In his religious 
views, he was an ultra Calvinistic Baptist, and objected to sur- 
porting Orthodox preaching. In this state of mind he induced 
the selectmen to insert an article in the warrant for the annual 
town meeting of 1785 : To see if the town would abate his 
minister tax, etc. The town's action on the article was, that we 
will not abate Mr. Spalding's minister tax, in the past, present 
or the future. Mr. Spalding's two sons, Jacob and Enoch, were 
soldiers in the war of the Revolution. 

His children were all born in Billerica as follows: Susan- 
nah, born March 15, 1753 ; married Nathaniel Rideout, January 
18, 1776. Jacob, born May 19, 1756; married Esther Shedd, 

, in 1782. Rhoda, born November 27, 1758 ; married 

Thomas Jaquith, December 25, 1776. Enoch, born November 
29, 1761. Sarah, born February 13, 1767 ; married James Ride- 
out, Jr., December 26, 1785. 



130 

SILAS SPALDING, Senior. 

Silas Spalding, St., son of Colonel Simeon and Sarah Fletcher 
Spalding, was born in Chelmsford, Mass., October 30, 1746. He 
married Sybil Pierce, daughter of Benjamin Pierce, of Chelms- 
ford, and sister of Gov. Benjamin Pierce of Hillsboro, N. H., Jan- 
uary 8, 1775, and resided in Chelmsford until 1778, when he re- 
moved to Hollis, N. H., settling on the Onesephrous Marsh place, 
north of Samuel Hayden's. Mr. Spalding was a well-to-do farmer, 
also carrying on hard wood coopering to some extent, freighting 
his barrels to Boston with an ox team, as was the custom in those 
days, carrying provisions enough to last the round trip. He built 
the house now on the premises in 1810. Tradition says that his four 
coopers in the shop earned money enough to meet the expense 
of building the house. 

His children were as follows : Sybil, born in Chelmsford, 
February 14, 1776 ; married Thaddeus Wheeler, Jr., November 
13, 1800; died November 26, 1849. Sally, born in Chelmsford, 
March 8, 1777; married Josiah Blood, January 12, 1801; died 
December 29, 1836. Captain Silas, Jr., born in Hollis, May 20, 
1779 ; married Dorcas Chandler, November 27, 1806 ; died April 
6, 1828. Infant son, born in Hollis, March 18, 1781 ; died same 
day. Simeon, born in Hollis, February 7, 1782 ; married Hannah 
Dow, February 2, 1814; died December 28, 1839. Rebecca, born 
in Hollis, April 10, 1785 ; married Charles Eastman, April 8, 
1804 ; married for second husband. Josiah Blood ; died October 
24, 1841. Esther, born in Hollis, January 30, 1787; married 
Jonathan T. Wheeler, June 7, 1809. 

Mr. Spalding died March 7, 1827, age 80. Buried in North 
Yard. Mrs. Sybil Spalding died November 6, 1834. Age 88. 
Buried in North Yard. 



131 

Captain SILAS SPALDING, Junior. 

Capt. Silas Spalding, son of Silas and Sybil Pierce Spalding, 
was bom in Hollis, May 30, 1779. He remained with his father 
during his minority. He married Dorcas Chandler, November 
27, 1806, and succeeded to the homestead, where he was engaged 
in farming and coopering, making hard wood barrels, and team- 
ing them to Boston with an ox team as was the custom. Mr. 
Spalding was prominent in military affairs, and was captain of 
the Hollis Infantry company of the State militia. He was a man 
of influence, a consistent and ardent Jackson Democrat and a 
large land holder. He built the house that is now (1909) stand- 
ing on the premises in connection with his father. 

His children were: Silas, 3rd, born in Hollis, September 15, 
1807; married Lucinda Wood, November 17, 1830. Stillman, 
born in Hollis, January 18, 1809 ; married Anna Holden, Novem- 
ber 24, 1835 ; died April 16, 1894. Sally, born in Hollis, January 
18, 1810 ; died May 10, 1812. John B., born in HolHs, January 
8, 1813 ; died May 17, 1821. Andrew J., born in Hollis, July 8, 
1815 ; married Mary Ann Wheeler, February 6, 1844 ; died May 
11, 1857. Simeon A., born in Holhs, May 17, 1817; married 
Katherine P. Sawtelle, December 20, 1847 ; killed by the Indians 
in California, September 13, 1854. Jones, born June 20, 1820 ; 
died unmarried October 5, 1841. John, born in Hollis, May 
21, 1822 ; died November 29, 1822. 

Mr. Spalding died April 16, 1828, age 49. His widow, Dor- 
cas Spalding, married Capt. Josiah Blood, April 26, 1838 ; resi- 
dence, Hollis. She died May 20, 1841, age 62. 



133 

SILAS SPALDING, 3rd. 

Silas Spalding, 3rd, son of Captain Silas and Dorcas Chand- 
ler Spalding, was born in Hollis, September 15, 1807, He worked 
on his father's farm, learned the coopers' trade, etc., in his 
young days. He married Lucinda Wood, November 17, 1831, 
and succeeded to the homestead where he carried on farming and 
coopering to some extent. He had a large orchard, also had an 
old style cider-mill on the premises which was well patronized 
by his neighbors. He was appointed ensign in the fifth company 
of infantry, in Hollis of the State militia, April 20, 1830, and 
resigned that position January 15, 1835, saying that he had held 
a commission long enough to free him from military duty, and 
that he wouldn't stay longer to keep others back. 

Mr. Spalding's wife, Lucinda, died September 25, 1844. He 
shortly after sold the old homestead to Josiah Hayden, and after 
a few years' residence at Patch Corner, went to Milford, N. H., 

where he engaged in coopering. He married a Miss — 

Wright. He built a house, resided here several years and then 
removed to Groton, Mass., to a farm, where he died. 

His children were: Silas M., Martin and Jones. 



133 

Colonel STILLMAN SPALDING. 

Col. Stillman Spalding, son of Captain Silas and Dorcas 
Chandler Spalding was born in HoUis, January 18, 1809. He 
learned the coopers' trade while young, making hard wood casks 
and freighting them to Boston with an ox-team as was then the 
custom. In after years he made as many as nine hard wood half 
barrels from the rough in a day. Mr. Spalding married Ann 
Holden, November 24, 1835, and settled in Hollis, on the Nashua 
road, half a mile east of the meeting house. He was a man of 
influence in town affairs, serving the town as moderator at times 

between the years of 1845 and , was one of the selectmen 

in 1853. He taught several terms of singing-school in town and 
was chorister at the Congregational church for a time. 

Mr. Spalding was prominent in militia affairs, was captain 
of the Hollis Stark Grenadiers, a light infantry company of State 
militia, and commanded that company at the famous Hardscrabble 
muster of September 5, 1838. He was chosen major of the old 
5th Regiment the next spring, holding this position under Col. 
John Eyers until 1841, when he was appointed colonel of the 
regiment, which office he held until 1846. Mr. Spalding was 
one of those 49ers, who caught the California gold fever, sailed 
around Cape Horn, obtained gold and returned late in 1852. He 
went to California several times after this. 

His children were : Frances Ann, born in Hollis, December 
18, 1836 ; married first, Samuel K. Rich, June 28, 1855 ; married 
for second husband, Henry H. Heuse, February 11, 1867. Henry 
S., born March 20, 1841; married Evy Wheeler, December 8, 
1870. Winslow J., born March 19, 1843; married Elizabeth 
Pool. Elizabeth J., born September 11, 1845; married Henry G. 
Hildreth, November 25, 1868. John N. W., born July 11, 1848 ; 
married Hattie M. Wheeler, December 8, 1876. Clara A., born 
December 8, 1853; married Theodore Brown, March 11, 1875. 

Mr. Spalding died in 1894, age 85. 



134 

Captain ASAPH SPALDING. 

Capt. Asaph Spalding, son of Asaph and Abiah Bowers 
Spalding, was born in Chelmsford, where Lowell now is, Septem- 
ber 13, 1807. He came with his parents who settled at the Spald- 
ing place at North Hollis, March 31, 1808, and always resided 
in Hollis. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married 
Hannah Colburn, April 14, 1830, and became part owner of the 
old homestead ; learned the art of pigeon-catching and helped to 
build the first artificial trout pond in Hollis. 

Mr. Spalding was quite prominent in military affairs, was 
Lieutenant of the old 5th Company of Infantry in Hollis, under 
command of Captain Varnum Wheeler at the Hardscrabble mus- 
ter of September, 1838, and succeeded Mr. Wheeler the next 
year as captain of that company, which office he held until March 
4, 1841. This was during the time that John Eyers was colonel 
of the regiment. 

His children were : Charles Sumner, born in Hollis, Decem- 
ber 23, 1830 ; married Mercion Barton, June 30, 1863. Hannah 
Maria, born in Hollis, August 18, 1833 ; married first Nelson E. 
Beckwith, September 13, 1858 ; married for second husband, 
Charles E. Cooke, May 13, 1869. Achsah Sophia, born December 
30, 1834 ; married Albert S. Powers, January 3, 1856 ; residence, 
Nashua; died, 1894. Sarah Lucinda, born June 25, 1839; mar- 
ried John A. Powers, February 1, 1862 ; residence Milford. An- 
drew Herbert, born April 23, 1841 ; married first Mary L. Bou- 
telle, October 9, 1861 ; married for second wife, Mrs. Mary 
Holden, June 17, 1795. Rachel Maryetta, born February 25, 
1844; died December 21, 1845. 

Mr. Spalding died of paralysis, August 13, 1885, aged 78. 
Mrs. Hannah Spalding, his wife, died April 7, 1899, aged 91, 

Mr. Spalding removed to the Bailey district, in the west 
part of the town, April 9, 1845. 



135 

EDWARD TAYLOR. 

Edward Taylor, a native of Brattles End, Dunstable, was 
born about 1785. He assisted his parents in his youth, as did 
most boys in those early colonial days. He married Mary 

about 1746, and about 1748, settled in Hollis at a point 

on the west side of Flint Hill near Jonathan Lovejoys, where 
he engaged in farming. Mr. Taylor deserved well of his country 
if for no other reason than that he was father of three sons who 
served in the war of the Revolution. 

The children of Edward and Mary Taylor were: Edward, 
born in Dunstable in 1747 ; married Mary Worcester, of Hollis, 
November 14, 1771, and settled in Plymouth, N. H. Daniel, 
born in Hollis, March 24, 1749 ; served in the war of the Revolu- 
tion from Hollis, at Bunker Hill and Cambridge, eight months. 
Joel, born in Hollis, August 23, 1762 ; married Mrs. Sarah Hobart 
Lovejoy, widow of Phineas Lovejoy, April 9, 1778 ; removed 
to Plymouth in 1776; served in the war of the Revolution; came 
within the limits of Hebron, 1792. Mary, born in Hollis, June 
19, 1754 ; married James Hopkins of Amherst, December 

, 1778. Jacob, born in Hollis, August 21, 1756 ; married 

Betty Boynton, November 19, 1781 ; residence, Hollis ; served 
in the war of the Revolution from Hollis. Anna, born in 
Hollis, August 28, 1757 ; no record. 

Mr. Taylor served in the war of the Revolution from Hollis 
in the Ticonderoga Alarm of 1776. 



136 

SAMUEL STEARNS, Senior. 

Samuel Stearns, St., son of Samuel and Phebe Stearns, was 
born in Lexington, Mass., March 7, 1702. His father died by a 
casualty, November 19, 1721. His mother removed to Littleton 
with her family in 1730. Mr. Stearns married Keziah Robbins, 
of Littleton, January 1, 1731. He resided in Littleton until about 
1748, when he settled in Monson, N. H., at a point about one 
mile east of Monson village, on the old Thornton Ferry road, 
a few rods west of Witch Brook valley, near Hollis line. Mr. 
Stearns was a large land holder, owning north of the Zedock 
Rogers, land situated in the south east part of Milford. 

His children were as follows : Samuel, Jr., bom in Little- 
ton, in 1732 ; married Hepsibeth Bryant, October 21, 1757. He 
removed to Plymouth, N. H., in 1778. He served in the old 
French war, and also in the war of the Revolution, at Bunker 
Hill, in Captain Crosby's company. Peter, born in Littleton, 
in 1734; married Abigail Wheat, September 8, 1764; removed to 
Plymouth in 1769 ; was in the war of the Revolution, Lieutenant 
of a company in northern campaign of 1781. His wife died 
September 22, 1786. He married for second wife, Judith Bart- 
lett, January 5, 1792. Isaac, born in Littleton, in 1736 ; married 
Rebecca Jewett, February 26, 1767 ; served in the war of the 
Revolution from Hollis. Eleazer, born in Littleton, in 1738; 
married Elizabeth Pierce, December 6, 1759. Joseph, born in 
Littleton, in 1740 ; married Mary Shattuck, June 9, 1763 ; married 
for second wife, Abigail Wheat, March 31, 1778. John, born in 
Littleton, in 1742; married Lucy Shedd, July 7, 1768; married 
for second wife, Hannah Goss in 1773 ; residence, Amherst ; Lieu- 
tenant in the revolution ; died, July 12, 1826. Ebenezer, born in 
Littleton, in 1744 ; married Rachel Ames, June 29, 1773. Phebe, 
born in Littleton, in 1745 ; married Levi Fletcher, of Dunstable, 
April 1, 1765. Kesiah, born in Littleton, in 1747. 

Mr. Stearns died at his old homestead, in 1787. 



137 

SAMUEL STEARNS, Junior. 

Samuel Stearns, Jr., son of Samuel and Kesiah Robbins 
Stearns, was born in Littleton, Mass., in 1732. He came to 
Monson, N. H., with his father in 1748. He married Hepsibeth 
Bryant, October 21, 1757, and settled near his father in Monson, 
on what has since been known as the Benjamin Farley place, at 
North Hollis. Upon the division of Monson July 4, 1770, he 
came within the limits of Hollis, without a change of residence, 
where he resided until 1778, when he removed to Plymouth, 
N. H. Mr. Stearns lived a while in Plymouth at the Downing 
place, and had a saw-mill on his farm until 1792 or later. 

Mr. Stearns served in the French war, from August 23, to 
October 19, 1754, in a company of scouts posted on Connecticut 
river at Charleston number 4, under command of Lieut. Ben- 
jamin Bellows. He also served in the war of the Revolution, 
in Captain Josiah Crosby's company at the siege of Boston, 
in 1775. 

His children were : Samuel, 3rd, born in Monson, November 
30, 1761 ; married Sally Holmes, June 2, 1800 ; residence, Plym- 
outh; died May 2, 1858. Nathan, born in Monson, in 1763; 
married Mary Holmes, January 1789 ; residence, Plymouth. 
Eunice, born in Monson, in 1765 ; no record ; ; resi- 
dence, Plymouth. Sarah, born in Monson, in 1766 ; married 
Jonathan Jewett, September 6, 1784 ; residence, Plymouth. Aaron, 
born in Monson, June 1, 1768; married Judith Taylor, March 
22, 1792 ; residence, Plymouth. Caleb, born in Monson, in 1770. 
He perished in the St. Lawrence river. 



138 

ISAAC STEARNS. 

Isaac Stearns, son of Samuel and Kesiah Robbins Stearns, 
was born in Littleton, Mass., in 1736. He came to Monson, N. 
H., with his father in 1748, He served in the French War, was 
in the Crown Point expedition of 1755, from April 24 to October 
31, in Colonel Joseph Blanchard's regiment, and in the company 
commanded by Captain Peter Powers. He also served in the 
war of the Revolution, in Captain Dow's company for Concord 
and Lexington, was at Bunker Hill, at the Ticonderoga Alarm, 
and at the battle of Bennington. Mr. Stearns married Rebecca 
Jewett, February 26, 1767, and settled in the south part of Hollis, 
where he was engaged in farming, was a quiet and unostenta- 
tious citizen, proud of having been one of five brothers who 
fought to free this country from British rule. 

His children as recorded in British history were: Rebecca, 
born December 16, 1767. Sarah, born November 9, 1769. Anna, 
born March 10, 1772 ; Isaac, born February 17, 1773. Nathaniel, 
born in 1774. Amos, born in 1776, a clergyman, went to Wash- 
ington, N. Y. Phebe and Lois, born in 1771, Phebe died soon; 
Lois married Nathan Williams. 

Mr. Isaac Stearns removed to Moncton, Vt., prior to 1800. 



139 

JOSEPH STEARNS, Senior. 

Joseph Stearns, son of Samuel and Keziah Robbins Stearns, 
was born in Littleton, Mass., in 1740, He married Mary Shat- 
tuck, June 9, 1763, and settled in that part of Hollis, situated east 
of Parker Pond, where he commenced farming on a small scale, 
always in limited circumstances, and a hard working man. 

Mr. Stearns served in the war of the Revolution, in the 
Ticonderoga Alarm of 1776, at battle of Bennington in 1777, in 
the Continental Army one year in 1779. Mr. Stearns left numer- 
ous descendants, as indeed nearly all of the Stearns who resided 
in Hollis in after years were his descendants. Mr. Stearns buried 

his wife, Mary Shattuck , and he married for a second 

wife, Abigail Wheat, March 31, 1778. 

His children were: Joseph, born in Hollis, March 21, 1779 ; 
married Lydia Nevins. Thomas W., born in Hollis, November 
15, 1783; married Sally Nevins, September 6, 1814; residence, 
Hollis. Daniel, born March 22, 1785. Abigail, born in Hollis, 
September 12, 1789. 



140 

JOSEPH STEARNS, Junior. 

Joseph Steams, Jr., son of Joseph, St., and Abigail Wheat 
Stearns, was born in Hollis, March 21, 1779, He remained with 
his parents during his minority. He married when well along in 
years, Lydia Nevins, a daughter of Benjamin Nevins, and Annis 
Mooar Nevins, born in Hollis, April 7, 1780, and settled near or 
at the old homestead situated on the road southeast of the Wincol 
Wright mill near the Parker Pond valley. 

Mr. Stearns was a day laborer, in the vicinity in which he 
lived, and always remained in limited circumstances. 

He suffered a loss by the great blow of September, 1815, 
as did most other people at that time. Buildings were blown 
down, large trees uprooted, fences destroyed, and much damage 
done. 



141 

THOMAS W. STEARNS. 

Thomas Wheat Steams, son of Joseph and Abigail Wheat 
Stearns, was born in Hollis, November 15, 1782. He remained 
with his parents in his youth, as did most of the New England 
boys in those days. 

He married Sarah Nevins, a daughter of Benjamin Nevins, 
September 6, 1814, and settled near his father, in the east part 
of Hollis. 

Mr. Stearns was engaged in farming, raising all the neces- 
sary supplies for the family use, keeping sheep and making all 
their wearing apparel as was then the custom. 

His children were : Thomas Mark, born in Hollis, February 
27, 1815 ; married Phebe Dow. Benjamin Nevins, born in Hollis, 
March 30, 1817; married Susan E. Colburn, March 18, 1841. 
William Plumer, born in Hollis, January 23, 1819 ; married 

Woods ; residence, Hollis. Henry H., born in Hollis, 

May 6, 1821; married — ; residence, Hudson. Ambrose 

Gould, born in Hollis, December 14, 1822 ; married Mary Wil- 
loughby. 



142 

Major WILLIAM SCOBY. 

Major William Scoby, the Hermit, a son of David Scoby, 
was born in Francistown, N, H., in 1788. He married Jane M. 
Dickey, December 22, 1812. He served in the war of 1812, the 
last war with England, and was a veteran of that war. He was 
present with his company at the battle of Lundy's Lane, in the 
21st Regiment, of United States Infantry, under command of 
James Miller, who by order of General Eleazer W. Ripley led 
that desperate charge against a British battery, stationed on a 
hill which commanded the battlefield, and after hard fighting with 
fixed bayonets succeeded in silencing the battery, and gained the 
signal victory of Lundy's Lane. 

After this war, for reasons not apparent, he lived the life of 
a hermit in little old huts about Milford and Amherst, and on 
land that was within the limits of Monson. Mr. Scoby was an 
ardent Democrat of the Jacksonian school, a subscriber and 
reader of the Nashua Gazette. He had two sons, one of whom 
lived in Lawrence, Mass., who it was reported paid his last 
sickness bills and funeral charges. 

Mr. Scoby died at the house of Isaac Lovejoy in Amherst, 
in 1849, aged about 67. 



143 

Deacon HUMPHREY HOBBS. 

Deacon Humphrey Hobbs, son of William and Sarah Knight 
Hobbs, was born in Topsfield, Mass., February 18, 1711. He 
married Annie Symonds, July 27, 1737, and settled in Souhegan 
West, about 1740, and was elected Deacon of the church, January 
6, 174:2. About this time some of the settlers under the lead of 
Deacon Hobbs fell in with the Indians one Sunday morning, 
when a smart fight ensued in which some of the Indians were 
killed. Deacon Hobbs gained a signal victory over them. It is 
reported the Indians said: "Souhegan Deacon no very good, he 
fight Sabba day." 

Mr. Hobbs resigned the deaconship in 1744, to take the 
command of a company of Rangers employed to scout and guard 
the settlement number 4, on Connecticut river, at Charleston. 
He was in the Crown Point expedition of 1756. He was a 
grantee and large land owner in Monson, where he settled about 
1747, near the mile slip. 

His children were: Annie, born in Topsfield, March 28, 
1739 ; married John Brown, December 9, 1757. Joseph, born in 
Amherst, April 20, 1743. Susannah, born in Amherst, Septem- 
ber 1, 1745 ; married Aaron Peabody, May 4, 1769. Samuel, 
born in Monson, September 17, 1750. 

Deacon Hobbs died in Monson, in 1756, aged 45. Mrs. 
Annie Hobbs died September 9, 1791, aged 78. 



144 

Captain JOSHUA WRIGHT. 

Capt. Joshua Wright, son of Deacon Josiah Wright and 
Ruth Carter, was born May 19, 1716, in Woburn, Mass. He 
married Abigail Richardson in Woburn, March 6, 1739, and 
settled in West Dunstable the same year on the South side of 
Flint's Hill. He was a farmer and a substantial citizen in the new 
settlement. Mr. Wright served in the French and Indian War 
in 1760, and served the town of Hollis as one of their Selectmen 
for the years 1749 and 1767. He was Captain of the militia 
company of Hollis at the time of the commencement of the war 
of the Revolution, but being considered too old to go into the 
service, the company chose Reuben Dow, who was Captain 
Wright's first Lieutenant, as Captain of the company, on the after- 
noon of April 19, 1775, and started for the seat of war. 

His children were : Joshua, Jr., born in West Dunstable, 
January 1, 1741 ; died at Crown Point, N. H., in 1760. Esther, 
born in West Dunstable, November 6, 1742 ; married John Shedd, 
December 20, 1764; residence, Pepperell, Mass. Abigail, born 
in West Dunstable, August 15, 1746 ; married Benjamin Knowl- 
ton; residence. New Ipswich, N. H. Abijah, born in West 
Dunstable, August 15, 1746; married Lucy Cummings, April 30, 
1772 ; residence, Plymouth. Lemuel, born in West Dunstable, 
October 2, 1748; died young. Ruth, born in West Dunstable, 
February 13, 1751 ; married Ebenezer Jaquith. Lemuel, born in 
West Dunstable, December 30, 1752 ; married a widow, Mary 
Johnson, March 13, 1781. Uriah, born in West Dunstable, De- 
cember 8, 1754 ; married Eunice Jewett, June 15, 1780 ; removed 
to Beverly; died August 21, 1797, in Hollis. Timothy, born in 
West Dunstable, September 8, 1756 ; died young. Sibbel, born in 
West Dunstable, February 13, 1759 ; no record. Susannah, born 
in West Dunstable, November 5, 1761 ; married William Woods, 
August 23, 1778 ; residence, Hollis ; had fourteen children. 

Mr. Wright died in Hollis, August 5, 1776, age 60. His wife, 
Mrs. Abigail Wright, died in January, 1812, aged 96. 



145 

BENJAMIN WRIGHT, Senior. 

Benjamin Wright, Sr., son of Deacon Josiah and Ruth Car- 
ter Wright, was born in Woburn, Mass., in 1724. He 

married Mary in 1750, and settled in Hollis, N. H., 

at a place on the road from the Wincol Wright mill to the 
Parker Pond valley, he being one of those early settlers in this 
wild region, who by dint of industry and perseverance, gained 
a competence and an honest living amid those scrub oaks and 
cobbly knolls. 

Mr. Wright served in the war for Independence at Concord 
and Lexington, and in the Continental army, two months in 1776. 
Beside serving on various committees in the town, he was an 
upright and honorable citizen. 

His children as found recorded were: Benjamin, Jr., born 
in Hollis, March 8, 1752 ; married Esther Taylor, December 15, 
1774. Abel, born in Hollis, September 3, 1754; Ebenezer W., 
born in Hollis, September 8, 1756 ; Mary, born in Hollis, Febru- 
ary 11, 1760 ; died young. Noah, born in Hollis, December 13, 
1763. Joseph and Mary, born February 9, 1766. Hannah, born 
September 19, 1769 ; married Ralph Nutting, December 17, 1809 ; 
residence, Westford. Sibbel, born May 9, 1772 ; married Nathan 
Blood for second husband ; residence, Pepperell. 



146 

BENJAMIN WRIGHT, Junior. 

Benjamin Wright, Jr., son of Benjamin and Mary Wright, 
was born in Hollis, March 28, 1752, He married Esther Taylor, 
December 15, 1774, and settled on his wife's homestead, the 
Jonathan Taylor place at the foot of Long Pond in Hollis. This 
property he came in possession of for taking care of Mr, and 
Mrs. Taylor, Mr, Wright served in the war of the Revolution, 
from Hollis, as a private in Captain Reuben Dow's company, at 
Concord and Lexington, He served the town as one of their 
Selectment in 1798 and 1799. Mr. Wright was engaged in 
farming ; he built and operated the old grist-mill so long owned 
and run in the Wright family, which was destroyed by fire, Janu- 
ary 16, 1908. 

His children were as follows : Kezia, born in Hollis, Febru- 
ary 20, 1776 ; married Robert Colburn, 3rd. June 11, 1799. Ben- 
jamin Winckol, born in Hollis, July 14, 1778 ; married Sarah 
Hardy, November 28, 1805 ; residence, Hollis. Esther, born 
in Hollis, April 15, 1781 ; married Loammi Spalding, May 6, 
1817, Jonathan, born in Hollis, July 14, 1783; died young, 
Salome, born in Hollis, November 28, 1784 ; died young, Jona- 
than Taylor, born August 19, 1787 ; married first Elizabeth 
Colburn, November 12, 1816 ; married for second wife, Nancy 
Blunt, May 10, 1821. Salome, born in Hollis, March 28, 1790; 
married Ebenezer Duncklee, April 22, 1813. Mary, born in 
Hollis, August 31, 1792 ; died young. Mary, born in Hollis, 
April 29, 1794 ; married Ebenezer Sargent, September 26, 1826 ; 
residence, New York. 

Mrs. Esther Wright died November 18, 1830, aged 77 years. 



147 

SAMUEL WRIGHT, Junior. 

Samuel Wright, son of Samuel and Wright, was 

born in Woburn, Mass., in 1753, residing Wilmington. He 
married Molly Brown, and removed from Wilmington to Hollis, 
N. H., in 1769, was granted a dismissal from the church at Wil- 
mington to unite with the church at Hollis. Mr. Wright settled 
at "One Pine Hill" district. His occupation was farming. He 
was an honest, unassuming man. 

He served in the war of the Revolution at Cambridge eight 
months, at Bunker Hill in 1775, and at the battle of Bennington 
in 1777. 

His children as found recorded were : Samuel, Jr., born in 
Hollis, September 24, 1778, shoemaker; died unmarried. Alice, 
born in Hollis, March 5, 1781 ; Stephen, born in Hollis, Septem- 
ber 19, 1783 ; married Sally Patch. Page, born in Hollis, April 
30, 1785; married Sarah Lawrence; died in 1864. Jane, born in 
Hollis, March 24, 1788 ; married James Farley, October 20, 1811 ; 
residence, Hollis. Betsey, born in Hollis, September 19, 1789 ; 
married James Parker, December 28, 1813 ; she died September 
5, 1825. Luther, born in Hollis, January 7, 1792 ; married 
Hannah Lillis April 21, 1823. Calvin, born in Hollis, October 
18, 1794; married Eunice Shattuck, November 19, 1827. 

Mr. Wright died March 31, 1816, aged 85 years. Mrs. Molly 
Brown Wright, died in September, 1827. Buried in the East 
Yard. 



148 

LEMUEL WRIGHT. 

Lemuel Wright, son of Captain Joshua and Abigail Richard- 
son Wright, was born in Hollis, December 30, 1753. He married 
Mary Johnson, March 13, 1781, and succeeded to the homestead 
farm near Flint's Hill. He made many improvements at the 
old homestead and was considered one of the well-to-do farmers 
of HolHs. 

He served in the war of the Revolution, at Ticonderoga, six 
months in 1776, and at Ticonderoga Alarm in 1777. 

His children were as found in the records : Lemuel, Jr., 
born in Hollis, March 18, 1782 ; married Mary Farley, December 
7, 1809 ; Joshua, born in Hollis, February 29, 1784 ; married 
Rebecca Willoughby, January 4, 1809. Noah, born in Hollis, 
June 13, 1787. Miles Johnson, born in Hollis, March 13, 1790; 
married Betsey Jewell. Benjamin, born in Hollis, May 4, 1792. 



149 

GAIUS WRIGHT. 

Gaius Wright, a native of Granby, Mass., was born Septem- 
ber 3, 1780. He married Lucy Shelden in 1804, settled in Granby 
and engaged in farming. Mr. Wright enHsted into the United 
States army and served in the war of 1813 and 181-1, in the 
Southern division under General James Wilkinson. He re- 
moved from Granby to Hollis, N. H., in 1817, and settled in the 
east part of the town near the Poor Farm place, remaining here 
until about 1821, when he went to the Elias Conant place, and 
in the spring of 1822, he removed to his farm in the West part 
of the town on the hill southwest of Rocky Pond, where he re- 
sidede the remainder of his days. Mr. Wright continued the 
habit of drinking ardent spirit as a beverage to a later day than 
did most of his neighbors. 

His children were : Eunice, born in Granby, March 14, 
1805 ; died young. Thomas V., born in Granby, December 15, 
1806; married Mary S. Shattuck, in 1827, died July 27, 1883. 
Lucy S., born in Granby, July 4, 1809 ; married Jacob D. Austin, 
April 3, 1833 ; died May 19, 1880. Gaius, Jr., born in Granby, 
May 9, 1811 ; married Naomi Parker, July 1, 1836 ; married for 
second wife, Sarah Colburn, August 17, 1865. James, born in 
Granby, July 22, 1815; died unmarried, November 10, 1878. 
Josiah v., born in Hollis, November 5, 1822 ; married Augusta 
Searles ; residence, Nashua. 

Mrs. Lucy Wright, wife of Gaius Wright; died January 13, 
1854, age 76. Mr. Gaius Wright, died December 17, 1861, 
aged 81. 



150 

BENJAMIN WINCHOL WRIGHT. 

Benjamin Winchol Wright, son of Benjamin and Esther 
Taylor Wright, was born in HoUis, July 14, 1778. He married 
Sarah Hardy, daughter of Lemuel and Hannah Jewett Hardy, 
November 28, 1805, and settled on the Powers place, so long 
known as the Winchol Wright place, on the Merrimac road, east 
of Patch Corner, where he was engaged in farming, and at- 
tended to running the Grist Mill. He was always a careful a'^c 
prudent manager, slow of speech, a modest and unassuming man. 

He was among the first in town to raise the butter-nut, or 
oil-nut, raising more than any one else. Mr. Wright was one of 
the first in town to make and run a light pleasure wagon. He 
lived at a time when all of his fellow-townsmen raised all their 
grain, and the custom at his mill was unbounded. 

His only child was : Esther Salome, born in Hollis, 
; married Benjamin Whiting, December 9, 1845; resi- 



dence, Hollis. 

Mr. Wright was politically a strong 'Whig and an adherent 
of Henry Clay. 



151 

JONATHAN TAYLOR WRIGHT. 

Jonathan Taylor Wright, son of Benjamin, Jr., and Esther 
Taylor Wright, was born in Hollis, August 19, 1787. He married 
first Elizabeth Colburn, November 13, 1816, a daughter of 
Nathan Colburn. She died February 25, 1819. He married for 
his second wife, Nancy Blunt, May 10, 1821. Mr. Wright suc- 
ceeded to the homestead at Long Pond. He was engaged in 
farming and running the Grist Mill. He had more than an ordi- 
nary education, taught a district school in his vicinity several 
terms ; learned the art of civil engineering and land surveying. 
He taught singing school, was chorister at the Congregational 
Church for a time. He served as one of the Selectmen eight 
years, between 1823 and 1835. Mr. Wright was chosen to repre- 
sent the town in the New Hampshire Legislature of 1830 and 
1831. He was employed in settling numerous estates. He was 
also prominent in military affairs, was Captain of the old fifth 
company of State Militia from 1820 to 1825. He was Justice of 
the Peace more than forty years. Mr. Wright enjoyed the entire 
confidence of his fellow townsmen ; his reputation for honesty 
and fair dealing, was proverbial. 

His children were : Jonathan Taylor and Nancy, twins, 
born January 26, 1823, died same day. Elizabeth, born in Hollis, 
November 2, 1818 ; married Benjamin Colburn ; residence, 
. Mary Ann, born in Hollis, December 30, 1827 ; mar- 
ried Warren K. Lovejoy, January 1, 1857 ; succeeded to home- 
stead. Jonathan Taylor, born in Hollis, November 29, 1824 ; 
died December 13, 1826. 

Mr. Wright died May 22, 1872, aged 84. Mrs. Nancy 
Wright, his wife, died in April, 1877. 



150 

BENJAMIN ROGERS, Senior. 

Benjamin Rogers, a grandson of Timothy Rogers, was born 
in Tewksbury, in 1760. He married Betty Merrill of Notting- 
ham West in 1781, and settled at North HolHs, N. H., on Witch 
brook, at a place so long known as the Rogers place, where 
formerly Deacon Timothy Emerson resided. Mr. Rogers manu- 
factured wooden ware and was a dealer in earthen-ware. He 
followed the occupation of pedlar and retail dealer of those 
articles for several years, going into all the surrounding country 
towns. Mr. Rogers was the owner of a considerable landed 
estate, including quite a territory of pitch pine forests. Mr. Rog- 
ers was a man of affairs, was very tenacious of his rights, so 
much so that some of his neighbors considered him inclined to 
over reach in his dealings. 

Mr. Rogers, as was the custom, carried his farm produce to 
Boston market, and exchanged for such articles as was needed 
for family use. 

He had one son: Benjamin, Jr., born in Hollis, March 11, 
1787 ; married Lydia Sargent, daughter of Eben Sargent, Octo- 
ber 12, 1812. 

Mr. Rogers died at his home, February 27, 1817, age 57. 
Mrs. Rogers died , 1834 ; buried in North Yard. 



153 

BENJAMIN ROGERS, Junior. 

Benjamin Rogers, Jr., son of Benjamin Sr., and Betty Mer- 
rill Rogers, was born in Hollis, March 11, 1787. He married 
Lydia Sargent, daughter of Ebenezer Sargent, October 12, 1818, 
and succeeded to the homestead. He was an unassuming up- 
right and honest citizen. Aside from farming, he was engaged 
in the manufacture of trunks for a Lowell firm. These trunks 
were covered with fur skins ; they were called fur-trunks. He 
followed this employment more than twenty-five years. He 
worked in the shop so much of the time that his neighbors called 
him "tim-per tam-per", Rogers, pay you as well tomorrow as 
f.ny time. He was not as fortunate in his business affairs as 
some men. 

His children were : Lydia, born in Hollis in 1815 ; died 
unmarried in Nashua, 1900, age 85. Annette, born in Hollis, 
— ; married Lewis Green; residence, Merriraac, Ben- 
jamin Franklin, born in Hollis, in 1827; died unmarried in 1854. 
Caroline, born in Hollis ; married Timothy Kittredge ; residence, 
Merrimac. 

Mr. Rogers died, , 1854 ; , is buried in 

North Yard. Mrs. Lydia Rogers, died in Nashua, , 

1875. Buried in North Yard. 



154 

JONAS WILLOUGHBY, Senior. 

Jonas Willoughby, son of John and Anna Chamberlain Wil- 
loughby, was born in Billerica, Mass., March 31, 1737. He came 
to West Dunstable with his parents in the spring of 1744. He 
married Hannah Bates, July 10, 1760, and settled for a short 
time at the Mark Stearns place on Parker pond brook, in Hollis, 
but removed to Westford, Mass., prior to 1764. He was engaged 
in farming and was always in limited circumstances. He re- 
moved to Hollis about 1780, and settled on the Hiram Hardy 
place, situated east of Rocky pond hill, residing here the re- 
mainder of his life. 

Mr. Willoughby for reasons best known to himself changed 
the orthography of his name to Willoby, which most of his de- 
scendants who remained in Hollis adopted. 

His children were: Jonas, Jr., born in Hollis, May 19, 
1761 ; married Prudence Saunders, May 24, 1785 ; residence, 
Groton, N. H. Oliver, born in Westford, Mass., June 2, 1764; 
married Sarah Bailey, January 31, 1787; residence, HolHs ; died 
August 6, 1834. David, born in iWestford, April 4, 1770; mar- 
ried Polly Wood, March 17, 1796; residence Holhs ; died April 
17, 1837. William, born in Westford, June 17, 1774; married 
Rebecca Adams, March 10, 1796; residence Hollis. 

Mr. Willoughby died at his home in Hollis, in , 

1791. 

Mr. Willoughby claimed he could reap as much rye in a day 
as any man that stood in Hollis. 



155 

JONAS WILLOUGHBY, Junior. 

Jonas Willoughby, Jr., son of Jonas and Hannah Bates 
Willoby, was born in HoUis, May 19, 1761. He married Pru- 
dence Saunders, May 24, 1785. He resided in Hollis until 
1796, when he removed to Groton, N. H. Mr. Willoby 
occupied a farm amongst the best farming land in the town of 
Groton. Very little history is known of Mr. Willoby. He was 
a law abiding citizen, and lived to enjoy that freedom which his 
fathers fought for. He continued to reside in Groton until 1800, 
when he removed to Plymouth, N. H. 

His children were: Prudence, born in Hollis, October 39, 
1787. Jonas, born March 15, 1790 ; married Hepsibah Gardner, 
April 24, 1815 ; residence, Holderness. Hannah, born May 7, 1792. 
Anna, born March 22, 1795 ; died young. Amy, born in Groton 
1797; married Phineas L. Emerson in 1822; married for second 
husband, William N. Wheeler, in 1838. Sarah, born in Groton in 
1799. William, born in Plymouth, November 26, 1801; mar- 
ried Maria Emerson, August 18, 1822. 



156 

OLIVER WILLOBY, Senior. 

Oliver Willoby, son of Jonas and Hannah Bates Willoby, 
was born in Westford, Mass., June 2, 1764. He came to HoUis 
with his parents while young. He married Sarah Bailey, a 
daughter of Daniel Bailey, Sr., January 31, 1787, and settled on 
a farm situated on the southeastern slope of Rocky pond hill, 
Hollis, where he resided during his life time. Mr. Willoby was 
one of the old school townsmen, always expressing himself in a 
bold and defiant manner, and never stopped to sort his words. 
He said to his neighbor, Stephen Lund, one morning, when he 
found him mowing: "You ought to have cut this grass a fort- 
night ago !" Mr. Lund replied: "No matter if it had been cut a 
fortnight ago, no matter if it's cut now ! no matter if it's cut a 
fortnight from now ! and finally no matter if it's never cut." 

His children were: Andrew, born in Hollis, August 3, 
1787; married Hannah Davis, January 19, 1811; residence, Hol- 
lis; died September 3, 1851. OHver, Jr., born in Hollis, July 17, 
1789; married Martha Hardy, June 20, 1811; residence, HolHs ; 
died September 12, 1877. William, bom in Hollis, September 
16, 1791; died October 23, 1798. Sarah, born in Hollis, May 
11, 1794; married first Jonathan Lovejoy, Jr., November 20, 
1817; married second Timothy Hodgman ; died March 21, 1886. 
Mary, born in Hollis, April 20, 1796 ; died unmarried, October 
14, 1821. Daniel Bailey, born in Hollis, April 4, 1798 ; married 
Mahala Pike; residence, Peterboro. Leonard, born in Hollis, 
March 23, 1800 ; married Mary Taylor in 1826 ; residence, home- 
stead ; died March, 1859. Charlotte, born in Hollis, May 28, 
1802 ; married Timothy Hodgman, February 13, 1827 ; residence, 
Jafifrey, N. H. Luther, born in Hollis, June 25, 1804; married 
Dorcas Taylor ; residence, Hollis ; died April 25, 1839. John 
Oilman, born in Hollis, May 26, 1807; died December 2, 1826; 
unmarried. 

Mr. Willoby died at his home, in Hollis, August 6, 1834. 
Mrs. Sarah Bailey Willoby, married Enoch Jewett, October 26, 
1837; died March 9, 1840. 



157 
DAVID WILLOBY. 

David Willoby, son of Jonas and Hannah Bates Willoby, was 
born in Hollis, April 4, 1770. He married Polly Wood, daugh- 
ter of Abijah and Esther Lewis Wood, March 17, 1796, and soon 
after settled at the northwestern, or Birch hill section of Hollis, 
the place so long owned by C. Spalding, which he had purchased 
of the Deacon Humphrey Hobson, heirs. Clearing oflf a portion 
of the land, he erected the buildings, and moving in on Thanks- 
giving day, 1800. He was engaged in farming and was a cooper 
by trade. Mr. Willoby resided here until April, 1815, when he 
sold to John Sawtelle of Brookline, and removed to Milford vil- 
lage, where he resided until his death. Mr. Willoby was a com- 
mon day laborer. 

His children were: Mary, born July 3, 1796; was a factory 
hand; died unmarried, April 18, 1871. David, Jr., born March 
8, 1798 ; married Sally Melendy, November 29, 1821 ; residence, 
Milford. Nancy, born March 16, 1800 ; married Daniel Peacock, 
April 23, 1820; died April 21, 1854. Jonas, born March 16, 
1805 ; married Susan Peacock in 1826 ; removed to Canada in 
1858. Julia, born June 5, 1803 ; married Joseph Herrick, June 
5, 1834; residence, Wilton; died April 10, 1874. Benjamin L., 
born September 10, 1807 ; married Eveline McKean, November 
13, 1832 ; died November 9, 1881. Esther, born March 15, 1810 ; 
married Robert Peacock, in 1831 ; residence, Lempster, died. 
Franklin, born February 20, 1812 ; married Harriet Peacock, in 
1833. Edwin, born March 19, 1814; married Mary A. Osgood, 
April 10, 1850 ; residence, Milford ; died February 7, 1891. Fred- 
erick A., born August 18, 1816; died in Milford, November 4, 
1818. 

Mr. Willoby died in Milford, April 17, 1837. Mrs. David 
Willoby died in Milford, April 15, 1851. 



158 

Ensign SAMUEL WILLOUGHBY. 

Ensign Samuel Willoughby, son of Anna Chamberlain Wil- 
loughby, was born in West Dunstable, February 13, 17-15. He 
married Elizabeth Jaquith, December 3, 1772, and settled at the 
old homestead, near Muddy brook, at the northeast part of 
HolHs. His wife, Elizabeth, died March, 1776. He married for 
a second wife, Mary Gould, November, 1776 ; daughter of Adam 
Gould. Mr. Willoughby served in the war of the Revolution, 
enlisting in Captain Daniel Emerson's company, for the Ticon- 
deroga expedition of 1776. Mr. Willoughby was one of the well- 
to-do farmers of Hollis. 

His children were: Elizabeth, born in Hollis, August 27, 
1774; married Samuel Lovejoy, August 27, 1794; residence. 
Hebron. Samuel, born in Hollis, March 1, 1776. Mary, born m 
Hollis, August 3, 1777; married Oliver Stearns, November 14, 
1816. Ethan, born in Hollis, February 26, 1779 ; married for 
second wife, Mrs. Julia Marshall, July 7, 1838. Sarah, born in 
Hollis, March 21, 1781; married Caleb Brown, Jr., June 28, 
1812. Beriah, born in Hollis, February 20, 1783 ; married 

. Rebecca, born in Hollis, May 11, 1785 ; married 

Joshua Wright, January 4, 1809. Anna, born in Hollis, May 18. 
1787. Luther, born in Hollis, April 14, 1789. Calvin, born in 
Hollis, March 14, 1791; married Lucinda Wheeler, May 1. 
1823 ; residence, Hollis ; died. Washington, born in Hollis, April 
13, 1793 ; married Lucy Saunderson, March 18, 1816 ; married 
for second wife, Elizabeth Wheeler, February 19, 1826 ; resi- 
dence, Hollis. John, born December 23. 1795. Joseph, born 
November 19, 1797. 

Mr. Samuel Willoughby, died October 26, 1832, aged 86. 



159 

SIMON WHEELER. 

Simon Wheeler, son of George and Abigail Hosmer Wheeler, 
was born in Concord, Mass., in September, 1715. He was the 
youngest brother of Peter and James, who settled in West Dun- 
stable in 1738. He married Dorothy Worcester, September 18, 

1739. He was a farmer, residing in Concord until his death, 
which occurred about 1756. After the death of her husband, 
she removed with her children to Hollis, N. H., in the spring 
of 1757, as under date of June 5, 1757, it is recorded in Vol. I, 
page 62, of Hollis town records, that the Selectmen warned Dor- 
othy Wheeler and her two children to depart out of this town 
in fourteen days. She went to Mason, N. H., where she resided 
several years. 

Their children were: Simon, born in Concord, Mass., in 

1740, who died young. Dorothy, born in Concord, in 1748, who 
died young, Dorothy, born in Concord, March 17, 1748 ; married 
Joshua Davis, October 22, 1767; died May 3, 1800. Timothy, 
born in Concord, June 14, 1750 ; married Mary Nevins, September 
8, 1773; residence, Amherst; died November 28, 1826. Betty, 
born in Concord in 1745 ; married Ebenezer Farley, November 
6, 1766 ; residence, in Hollis. Daniel, born in Concord, July 10, 
1752 ; married Eunice Hobart, March 23, 1775 ; married for 
second wife, Mary Fuller, December 7, 1780; residence, Plym- 
outh, N. H. Simon, born in Concord in 1754; died in 1784, 
aged 30 years. 



160 

TIMOTHY WHEELER, Senior. 

Timothy Wheeler, Sr., son of Simon and Dorothy Worces- 
ter Wheeler, was born in Concord, Mass., June 14, 1750. His 
father died when he was about six years old, and he with other 
members of the family removed to Hollis, N. H. Mr. Wheeler 
went to Plymouth, N. H., with Deacon John Willoughby, in 
1764. He returned to Hollis in 1773, and married Mary Nevins, 
September 8, 1773, a daughter of William Nevins, and settled 
on the hill, half a mile west of Pennichuck pond in North Hollis, 
a place since known as the Mooar's Place, residing here until 
1781 or 1783, when he removed to the East part of Amherst. Mr. 
Wheeler was employed in farming. 

His children were: Timothy, Jr., born January 12, 1774; 
married Betsey Peacock Beverly, September 11, 1808. Mary, 
born October 2, 1775; died young. Simon, born July 23, 1777; 
died February 6, 1803, age 26. Nathan, born in 1779 ; married 
Huldah Wilkins, November 25, 1807. William N., born in Am- 
herst, in 1781; married Hannah Odell, July 10; 1803; died 
November 15, 1857. Rebecca, born October 26, 1783 ; married 
Jacob Mclntire, December 31, 1807. Joseph, born May, 1786; 

died in February, 1806. Daniel, born , 1789 ; married 

Martha G. Aiken ; died December 10. 1867. John N., born May 
1791; married Nancy Rhodes, December 11, 1814; residence, 
homestead; died November 89, 1859. Jonathan, born 1795; 
married Martha Beals, November 89, 1815 ; residence in Merri- 
mac ; died March, 1844. Mary, born 1797 ; married Peregrine 
Nichols ; residence, Merrimac. Betsey, born in 1799 ; died young. 

Mr. Wheeler died November 88, 1886, aged 77. Mrs. Mary 
Wheeler, died October , 1815. 



161 

TIMOTHY WHEELER, Junior. 

Timothy Wheeler, Jr., son of Timothy, Sr., and Mary Ne- 
vins Wheeler, was born in Hollis, January 12, 1774. He married 
Mrs. Betsey Peacock Beverly, widow of Asa Beverly, September 
11, 1803, and settled at the south part of Peacock village in the 
south part of Amherst, where he was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. He learned and worked at the mason's trade, and was 
the first in this section to work at this business. 

Mr. Wheeler was a quiet, industrious, unassuming man, hon- 
ored and respected by all who knew him ; politically an adherent 
of Thomas Jefferson, supporting him in all conservative meas- 
ures, an accommodating neighbor, and upright citizen. 

His children were : Timothy 3rd, born in Amherst, Septem- 
ber 28, 1803 ; married Mercy Foster, April 17, 1833 ; residence, 
Amherst. Nathan, born in Amherst, May 29, 1805; married 
Hannah Wheeler, November 26, 1850 ; residence, Amherst. Wil- 
liam, born in Amherst, January 17, 1807 ; married . 

residence, Illinois ; died April 19, 1849. Eric C, born in Am- 
herst, April 17, 1809; married Hannah Holt, September 10, 
1833 ; residence, Hollis and Milford. Porter, born in Amherst, 
February 8, 1812 ; married Mary Holt, April 22, 1841 ; residence, 
Amherst; died November 23, 1870. Betsey, born in Amherst, 
April 9, 1814 ; married Reid Button, April 4, 1844 ; residence, 
Milford. Gardner G., born in Amherst, June 17, 1816; married 
Irene Follansbee in 1840 ; she died November, 1847 ; he married 
for his second wife, Tabatha Brown, December 21, 1849 ; he 
died May 22, 1855. 

Mr. Timothy Wheeler, died February 5, 1853. 



162 

ROBERT DURRAH, Junior. 

Robert Diirrah, Jr., son of Robert and Jane McKean Dur- 
rah, was born in Litchfield, N. H., in 1750. His father was a 
native of the North of Ireland. He came to this country in 
1738, and settled in Litchfield. His son David, was the noto- 
rious Doctor Durrah of Kirby Street, Boston. Mr. Robert 
Durrah, Jr., married Elizabeth Gating in 1786, and shortly after 
settled at the base of Nissitisset Hills, in the northwest part of 
Hollis. He was guided to his lot from the Joel Bailey place only 
by marked trees. He commenced a clearing and erected a log 
hut, taking an immense hollow log six feet in diameter for the 
back of his cabin. Large numbers of wild animals then roamed 
the forests ; the black bear, the wolf and panther. 

In consequence of the Hollis Selectmen not laying out the 
road from Captain Bailey's to Richard Clark's in 1791, past Mr. 
Durrah's place as he wished, he petitioned and was included 
within the chartered limits of Milford in 1794. Mr. Durrah was 
a hard and laborious working man. His woodman's axe felled 
many a forest tree. 

His children as recorded in Vol. 12, Hollis records were: 
John, born at Litchfield, January 7, 1787. Betsey, born in Hollis, 
in 1789. Joseph, born in Hollis, in 1791. Robert, Jr., born In 
Hollis, in 1793 ; supposed to have been pressed aboard a British 
man-of-war in 1812 or 1814. 

Mr. Durrah died in January, 1816, aged 66. Buried in old 
yard, Milford. 



163 

ENOCH JEWETT. 

Enoch Jewett, was born in Rowley, Mass., in 1757. He 
came to Dunstable prior to 1775, is credited to Dunstable quota 
in the war of the Revolution, wherein he served six years and a 
half. He said he went into the battle of Saratoga with an old 
shot gun ; as the enemy retreated he saw a dead Hessian with a 
fine gun, whom he took the liberty to trade even with. This gim 
he brought home with him from the army, and used to exhibit it 
to his neighbors with a good deal of pride. Mr. Jewett married 
Lydia, daughter of Daniel Pike of Dunstable, January 8, 1778, 
residing here until the spring of 1784, when he settled at the 
base of Rocky pond hill, in Hollis, N, H., at a place called t^ie 
old house flat. In August, 1784, he was warned out-of-town by the 
Selectmen. 

His children were : Sarah, born in Dunstable, in 1780 ; 
married Benjamin Austin, March 19, 1800 ; residence, Austin 
City. Betsey, born in Dunstable, in 1782 ; married Jonas French. 
Lydia, born in Dunstable, November 22, 1787 ; married Nathan 
Colburn, January 14, 1808 ; residence, Hollis. Isaac, born in Dun- 
stable, , 1778; married Polly Proctor, July 23, 1800; 

residence, Nashville, Tenn. Daniel, born in Dunstable, in 1793 ; 
married Elizabeth Brown February 4, 1824 ; residence, Detroit, 
Mich. Moses, born in Dunstable, in 1795 ; married Julia Webb ; 
residence, California. George, born in Dunstable, April 21, 1791/ ; 
attempted to commit suicide ; ran away. Enoch, Jr., born in No- 
vember, 1800; married Hannah Wright, March 1, 1821. 

Mr. Jewett buried his wife, Lydia. May 22, 1837. He mar- 
ried for his second wife, Mrs. Sarah Bailey Willoby, widow of 
Oliver Willoby, October 26, 1837. She died March 9, 1840. Mr. 
Jewett died January 8, 1849, aged 92 years, 

Joseph Jewett, a native of Yorkshire, England, came to 
America in 1639, and settled in Rowley, Mass., in 1640. Enoch 
Jewett served in Captain Kendall's company, first Middlesex regi- 
ment. 



164 

ABNER KEYES. 

Abner Keyes, son of Ezekiel and Abigail Keyes, was born in 
Chelmsford, Mass., in 1738. Mr. Keyes married Mary Shedd of 
Pillerica, Mass., December 30, 1763, and soon after settled in Rum- 
ney, N. H., but subsequently removed to Plymouth, N. H., where 
he held a land grant, removing to HoUis about 1772, and settling 
at a place since known as Keyes' Hill, situated northwest of Long 
Pond, near the Jonathan T. Wheeler place, where he resided 
until 1792, when he removed to Hancock, N. H., residing here 
until his death in 1819. Mr. Keyes was a soldier in the old 
French and Indian war, and also served in the war of the Revolu- 
tion about two years. He was at the battle of White Plains. 
Although a man of moderate means, he was possessed of patriot- 
ism and sterling worth. 

His children were: Sarah, born September 3, 1764; mar- 
ried Josiah Wheat, April 17, 1788. Mary, born August 14, 1766 ; 

married French. Hannah, born July 14, 1768 ; married 

Nathaniel Shattuck, Jr., April 28, 1791. Abigail, born July 2, 

1770; married Rice. Esther, born August 24, 1772; 

married Eli Maynard, January 17, 1796. Anna, born September 
15, 1774; married Ebenezer Russell, February 5, 1795; died 
September 10, 1855. William, born October 12, 1776 ; married 
Betsey Russell, February 22, 1803. Rebecca, born July 31, 1778 ; 
married Edwin Sargent. Abner, Jr., born August 2, 1780 ; mar- 
ried Susannah Barton, November 27, 1806 ; died February 12, 
1837. Elizabeth, born December 9, 1782 ; married John Bryant, 
November 27, 1806. Ruth, born February 21, 1785; no record. 



165 

JOSEPH FRENCH. 

Joseph French, son of General William and Tabitha French, 
was born in Billerica, Mass., December 10, 1740. He came to 
Monson with his parents in the spring of 1768. Mr. French 
married Mary Youngman, February 1, 1771, and settled near 
the place now (1911) occupied by A. S. Wentworth, formerly 
known as the Cobbett place, situated on Witch Brook, at North 
Hollis. 

Mr. French helped to build and operate a saw-mill, which 
was run until 1800, when it was changed over to a carding and 
fulling mill by Isaac Cobbett. Mr. French belonged to the Hollis 
minute-men and served in the war of the Revolution. Mr. French 
was engaged in farming as was most of the early settlers. Very 
little history concerning this man has come down to us. 

His children were : Joseph, Jr., born in Hollis, June 8, 1772. 
Mary, born in Hollis, March 14, 1774. Ebenezer, born in Hollis, 
October 14, 1776. Tabitha, born in Hollis, March 20, 1779; 
residence in a little old hut ; died unmarried at Hollis town farm 
in 1840. Stephen Youngman, born September 23, 1781 ; lived 
the life of a Hermit ; died in Exeter, Me., March 8, 1858. Mittie, 
born in Hollis, June 20, 1784. Martha, born in Hollis, October 
14, 1786. 

Mr. French probably died prior to 1815. Supposed to be 
buried in Bedford, N. H. Mr. French removed to the West part 
of the town at a point West of the Frank P. Colburn place, where 
he resided several years ; subsequently removed to Bedford, N. 
H., where most of his family resided. 



166 

HIRAM WOOD. 

Hiram Wood, son of Abijah and Esther Lewis Wood, was 
born in Dracut, Mass., in 1779. Remained with his parents in 
youth. He married Elizabeth Cheever, of Dracut, Mass., in 1799, 
and settled in Dracut. He was engaged in farming until the 
following year, when he removed with his parents to North 
Hollis, N. H., to the General William French place, recently 
occupied by Joseph French, situated near the Cobbeti place oti 
Witch brook. Mr. Wood here was engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, and as a farm laborer. He was an industrious and quiet 
citizen. 

His cihldren were : Hiram, Jr., born in Dracut, November 
9, 1799; married Annis A. Jewett, October 28, 1838; married 
for second wife, Lavins Farwell Fosdick; residence, Nashua. 
Moses, born in Hollis, January 25, 1802 ; married Submit Hardy; 
residence, Hollis ; died April 14, 1875. Sibyl, born in Hollis, 
July 7, 1804 ; died in Hollis, unmarried, September 5, 1848, aged 
44. Clarissa, born in Hollis, June 23, 1807 ; died April IG, 1808. 
Lucinda, born in Hollis, March 29, 1809 ; married Silas Spalding, 
November November 1, 1831 ; residence, Hollis ; died September 
25, 1844. Aaron, born in Hollis, October 19, 1811; taught 
school ; he disappeared about 1835, and was never heard from. 
Isaac, born in Hollis, October 25, 1813 ; married Sarah Jewett 
, 1840 ; residence, Hollis ; died August 24, 1880. Eliza- 
beth, born in Hollis, November 1, 1815 ; died September 22, 1819, 
with her grandparents, aged three years, ten months, and twenty- 
two days. 

Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Hiram, died February 27, 1816, 
aged 35. Buried in the Church Yard. 

Mr. Hiram Wood died March 5, 1816, aged 37. Buried 
in Church Yard. 



167 

Deacon PHILIP WOOD. 

Deacon Philip Wood, son of Abijah and Esther Lewis Wood, 
was born in Dracut, Mass., in 1782. In his youth he came to 
HolHs, N. H., and worked for Captain Daniel Bailey. He mar- 
ried Dorothy Davis of Hollis, February 3, 1801, and soon after 
settled on the Abijah Gould place, situated in the extreme north- 
west part of Hollis, where he was engaged in farming. He be- 
came a prominent and influential citizen. Mr. Wood held the 
office of captain of the old fifth company of state militia, and 
prior to 1820, served the town of Hollis, as one of their Select- 
men in 1837 and 1838. He was chosen deacon of the Congre- 
gational church in 1820, a position which he held at the time 
of his death. 

His children were : Philip, Jr., born July 12, 1801 ; married 
Eliza Lind. Timothy Davis, born April 2, 1803 ; married Mary 
S. T. Washer ; residence, Picua, Ohio ; died June 26, 1868. Leon- 
ard, born October 22, 1805 ; married Jane Erwin ; resi- 
dence, Tennessee. Dolly, born August 6, 1807 ; married Doug- 
las R. Patterson, August 4, 1831 ; residence, Nashua and Hollis. 
Abijah, born December 2, 1809 ; married Mary Ann Wood, 
August 8, 1832 ; residence, Milford ; died January 17, 1876. Am- 
brose Harvy, born January 16, 1812; married Mary Ann Col- 
burn, August 27, 1833 ; residence, homestead. Osborn, born 
April 11, 1814 ; died September 26, 1819 ; WilHam, born March 
18, 1816 ; died April 25, 1816. William, born August 23, 1817 ; 
married Caroline Kirk, ; residence, Picua, Ohio; mar- 
ried for second wife, Martha Dill. Charles A., born February 
24, 1820 ; married Hannah F. Washer in 1840 ; residence, Picua, 
Ohio ; married for second wife, Mrs. Sally Brown. Infant daugh- 
ter, born January 25, 1825 ; died same day. Deacon Wood died 
at the old homestead, January 14, 1858, age 76 ; burial North 
Yard. 

Mrs. Dorothy, his wife, died October 14, 1862, age 84. 
Burial North Yard. 



1C8 

Ensign LEWIS WOOD. 

Ensign Lewis Wood, son of Abijah and Esther Lewis, was 
born in Dracut, Mass., in 1784. He married May Flint of Tings- 
borough in , 1805, and settled in Hollis on the old Jonas 

Willoby place, since known as the Hiram Hardy place, 
situated southeast of Rocky pond hill, where he was en- 
p^aged in farming and coopering, teaming his barrels to 
Boston in an ox cart as did most coopers in those days ; always 
laying in a liberal supply of cider, as did his neighbors around 
him. It was said of him that he could lift a barrel of cider by the 
chime, and throw it into an ox cart, the easiest of any man 
living. Mr. Wood held an ensign's commission in the State 
militia prior to 1818. 

His children were : Lewis, Jr., born October 2, 1806 ; resi- 
dence, Hollis ; died unmarried, April 21, 1874. Charles, born 
August 2, 1808 ; died September 4, 1819. Mary, born December 
3, 1810; married Varnum Wheeler, June 2, 1836. Samuel, born 
I\Jarch 3, 1813; ; residence, Ohio. Calvin, born Sep- 
tember 23, 1815 ; ; residence, Ohio. Charles Osbom, 

born June 25, 1821; married Luella P. Hardy, June 29, 1843; 
she died February 22, 1846 ; married for second wife, Mary 
Nesmith in 1848; died October 31, 1868. Frederick Augustus, 
born in 1825 ; married Susan Hardy. 

Mr. Lewis Wood, died at the homestead, July 16, 1835, age 
51. His wife, Mary, died October 25, 1864, age 81. 



169 

STEPHEN LOVEJOY. 

Stephen Lovejoy, son of Daniel and Sarah Wiman Lovejoy, 
was born in HolHs, N. H., May 23, 1773. He married Betsey 
Hood, a daughter of Joseph Hood, May 9, 1795, and settled on 
Muddy brook in the east part of Hollis. Mr. Lovejoy was en- 
gaged in farming, was a respected citizen in moderate circum- 
stances, residing in Hollis several years, but subsequently remov- 
ing to Amherst, N. H., to the farm next south of the Bryant 
Melenda place, near the stone bridge, where he remained several 
years. 

His children were : Betsey, born May 4, 1796 ; married Heze- 
kiah Hamlet, December 11, 1817; residence, Milford. Stephen, 
Jr., born September 11, 1797; married Lucy Hobart, May 22, 
1823 ; residence, Hollis ; married for second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Wheeler Willoughby, widow of Washington Willoughby. Han- 
nah, born September 29, 1799 ; married Osgood Hamlet. James, 
born October 29, 1802 ; married Ora Erskine, October 30, 1826 ; 
residence, Amherst. Isaac, born September 20, 180-1 ; married 
Sophia Truell, May 21, 1827 ; married for second wife, Jemima 
Colburn, October 27, 1831 ; residence, Hollis and Amherst ; died 
February 19, 1880. Mary, born April 20, 1808; married Jacob 
Bickford, July 9, 1826 ; residence, Charlestown, Mass. Sarah, 
born March 2, 1810; died August 3, 1813. John, born March 13, 
1812; married Eliza W. Nichols, March 19, 1833; resi<lcncc, 
Amherst. Sarah, born March 20, 1814; died June 25, 1835. 
Mark, born April 6, 1816 ; married Ann Came, February 20, 
1842 ; residence, Amherst. Miles, born August 3, 1818 ; married 
Naome Barrett, April 7, 1842 ; residence, Amherst. Mrs. Betsey 
Lovejoy, wife of Stephen, died May 15, 1852, age 75. 

Mr. Stephen Lovejoy, died May 20, 1852, age 79. 



170 

JOHN SHEDD, Junior. 

John Shedd, Jr., son of John and Martha Hosier Shedd, 
was born in Billerica, Mass., March 7, 1760. Mr. Shedd served 
in the war of the Revolution from Billerica for which he re- 
ceived a pension from 1832, the time of the passage of the act 
by Congress to the time of his death. Mr. Shedd married Sarah 
Sprake, daughter of Nicholas Sprake of Billerica, June 24, 1778. 
He married for his second wife, Rachel Danforth, daughter of 
David Danforth of Billerica, November 24, 1784, who died July 
24, 1797, and he married for his third wife, Mrs. Lucy Farley 
Jewett, widow of James Jewett, November 5, 1797. Mr. Shedd 
resided in Billerica until 1790, when he removed to the Oliver 
Bowers place on Witch brook at North Hollis, had the property 
for maintaining Mr. and Mrs. Bowers. He built the large two 
story house now (1911) standing on the premises in 1805. 

His children were : Rachel, born in Billerica, January 24, 
1786 ; married Stephen Lund, January 22, 1806 ; residence, 
Hollis. Esther, born in Billerica. Martha, born in Billerica, 
June 3, 1788 ; married Paul Davis, August 4, 1817 ; died October 
11, 1820; residence. Mason. Lucy, born in Billerica. \o7v.'nii,er 
28, 1789. John, 3rd, born in Hollis, June 17, 1793 : marrie:! Lydia 
Wright, December 10, 1819 ; residence, homestead : died May 10, 
1874. Julia, born in Hollis, March 15, 1793 ; died in Hollis, un- 
married, January 12, 1860. Captain Ebenezer, born in Hollis, 
January 24, 1796 ; married Elizabeth Duncklee, August 5, 1817 ; 
died March 1, 1832. Gardner, born in Hollis, October 9, 1798. 
Luther, born in Hollis, April 1, 1800; married Abigail Sawtelle ; 
residence, Alexander, N. H. Calvin R., born in Hollis, 1807 ; 
married Thirza Bennett, June 23, 1836; residence, Brookline ; 
married for second wife, Mrs. Mary A. Patterson Sawtelle, 
widow of Edward Sawtelle, 1862 ; died November 9, 1874. 

Mrs. Lucy Shedd, died June 26, 1837. Mr. John Shedd, 
died in Alexander, N. H., in 1838. 



171 

JOHN SHEDD, 3rd. 

John, 3rd, son of John, Jr., and Rachel Danforth Shedd, 
was born in HolHs, June 17, 1791. He married Lydia Wright, 
December 10, 1819, and settled on the homestead farm in Hollis. 
He was engaged in farming and raising hops. 

Mr. Shedd was a penurious and hard-working citizen, and 
desired those around him to be industrious. He cared very little 
for the welfare of his neighbors, nor in return did his neighbors 
care much about him. 

Mr. Shedd was a very small man in statue as well as every 
other way, so much so that people called him : "Little Johnny 
Shedd." 

His children were : Capt. Ezra, born . Rachel, born 



Mr. Shedd, died May 10, 1874. Burial in North Yard. 



172 

Captain EBENEZER SHEDD. 

Captain Ebenezer Shedd, son of Jr., and Rachel Danforth 
Shedd, was born in Hollis, January 24, 1796, He married Eliza- 
beth Duncklee, August 5, 1817, and immediately settled at the 
Joseph French place, near Cobbett's Mill on Witch brook at 
North Hollis, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and as a 
farm laborer. He was much esteemed by his fellow-townsmen. 
He was appointed superintendent of the Sabbath School at Con- 
gregational Church in Hollis. He was commissioned captain of 
the old fifth company of infantry in the State Militia, March 6, 
1829, which office he held at the time of his death, which 
occurred March 1, 1832. 

His children were: Nelson E., born in Hollis, September 

22, 1820; married . Elizabeth, born in Hollis, January 

7, 1818 ; married Joshua Jewett. Charles N., born in Hollis, 

December 23, 1824; married . Augustus, born in 

. 1826. Ann Maria, born October 6, 1822. 

After Captain Shedd's death, his widow, Elizabeth, subse- 
quently married John Cutter, of Pelham, N. H., and three chil- 
dren were born to them. They resided in Nashua, N. H. She 
died in Nashua, September 23, 1877, age 82 years. 



173 

DANIEL PEACOCK, Junior. 

Daniel Peacock, Jr., son of Daniel and Elizabeth Foster 
Peacock, was born in Milford, September 22, 1799. He married 
Nancy Willoby, daughter of David and Polly Wood Willoby, 
in 1820, and immediately settled at old Monson village in one of 
those wood-colored dilapidated houses. He cultivated a small 
patch of land, worked at coopering most of the time, but always 
remained in limited circumstances. 

At the September term of the Superior court for Hillsbor- 
ough county, in 1830, Abial Lovejoy, merchant of Milford, 
brought suit against Daniel Peacock, Jr., for goods amounting 
to $71.32, in assumit. This suit went by default. 

On election day, June, 1826, Mr. Peacock had a ''ginger- 
bread shooting" at his place, which drew a large crowd of young 
people from all about. Mr. Peacock was the last inhabitant to 
leave Monson village. In the fall of 1826, he removed to Lemp- 
ster, N. H., where his father resided. 

His children were : Mary Ann, born in 1821 ; died Septem- 
ber 27, 1821. Nancy, born August 7, 1822 ; married William F. 
Pratt. Augustus F., born June 18, 1824; married Roxana Put- 
nam, June 6, 1849 ; residence, Wilton. 



174 

RUFUS ORCUTT. 

Rufus Orcutt, a notorious criminal, who had married Betsey 
Hartley, and resided in Amherst, prior to 1832, at which time 
he removed to Hezekiah Kendall's Mills on Witch brook, at 
North Hollis. On the evening of March 25, 183.'', while under 
the influence of liquor, Mr. Orcutt went into Mr. Kendall's 
room caught up a chair and struck Mr. Kendall on the head, 
breaking his skull. He lived three days, and Mr. Orcutt was 
sent to State Prison for three years. Mr. Kendall had dunned 
Orcutt for rent due, and was the excuse and provercation of Mr. 
Orcutt striking him with the chair. 

While Orcutt was serving out his term in state prison, his 
family resided in the old school-house. They moved to near the 
David Elliott place at Hardscrabble, and subsequently, while 
serving out a term in state prison in a fit of despair, set fire to 
his straw bunk, January 21, 1841, and perished in the flames. 
It is said that Mrs. Orcutt danced for joy while he was burning. 

His children were: Rufus H., born about 1825; married 
; residence, Amherst. George, born about 1828. Joseph- 



ine, born about 1830. 

Mrs. Betsey Orcutt, died in Amherst, February 20, 187}). 
age 83. 



175 



JOSHUA DAVIS. 



Joshua Davis, son of Timothy and Hannah Smith Davis, 
was born in Townsend, Mass., May 8, 1744. He married Dorothy 
Wheeler, October 22, 1767, a daughter of Simon and Dorothy 
Wooster Wheeler, who was born in Concord, Mass., March 17, 
1748, and died in HoUis May 3, 1800. Mr. Davis settled in 
Hollis, at a place known as the Mark Stearns place, southeast 
of the Wincol Wright Mill, where he engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, until about 1801, then removed to Mason, N. H. He 
married for his second wife, Sarah Tarbox, of Mason, N. H., 
May 19, 1801. 

Mr. Davis served in the war of the Revolution from Hollis, 
was at Ticonderoga in 1776, six months, and always remained a 
respected citizen of the town. 

His children were: Joshua, Jr., born in Hollis, June 26, 
1768 ; married Sarah Richardson, May 4, 1813 ; residence, Al- 
stead, N. H. Reuben, born in Hollis, January 12, 1771 ; married 

; residence, Alstead, N. H., and Vermont. Dorothy, 

born in HolHs, September 13, 1772; died April 7, 1776, age 3 
years and 7 months. Timothy, born in Hollis, November 18, 
1775 ; married a Stearns ; went to sea, never heard from there- 
after. Dorothy, born in Hollis, April 2, 1778; married Philip 
Wood, February 3, 1801 ; residence, Hollis ; died October 14, 
1862. James, born in HolHs, March 26, 1780; married Bridget 
Wheeler, November 22, 1810; residence Mascn. Paul, born in 
Hollis, February 23, 1782 ; married Lucy Pike, October i-^O, 
1806 ; she died March 5, 1817 ; married for second wife, Martha 
Shedd, August 4, 1817; she died October 11, 1820; married for 
third wife, Mary Kimball ; died by hanging in 1826. 

His children were: Simon, born in HolHs, March 3, 1784; 

married ; residence, Picua, Ohio. Hannah, born in 

Hollis, May 23, 1786; married Andrew Willoby, January 19, 
1811; residence, Hollis; died March 31, 1869. 

Joshua Davis died in Mason, October 16, 1840, aged 96 
years. Sarah, his wife, died in Mason, October 4, 1841, age 
80 years. 



176 

LAZARUS HUBBARD. 

Lazarus Hubbard, the beggar, was a son of Jonas and 
Betty Hubbard, was born in Hollis, in 1773, at the south part 
of old Monson village. He married prior to 1794 ; at this time 
he removed to Antrim, N. H., residing there until 1801, then 
returned to Monson. According to tradition, Mr. Hubbard was 
the poorest and laziest man that ever lived in this section, a noted 
beggar, traveling from house to house ; sometimes peddling medi- 
cinal herbs and nostrums and occasionally peddling brooms peeled 
from witch-hazel, then in general use among the farming com- 
munity. 

It was said that he would, as it was the custom with some, 
hang the mop, the broom, grid-iron and frying pan on the outside 
of the house, at either side of the entrance door. 

His children were : Of whom Betty and Isaac were men- 
tioned. 

Mr. Hubbard disappeared from Monson prior to 1820. 



177 
JOHN SAWTELLE. 

John Sawtelle, son of Ephraim and Abigail Stone Sawtelle, 
was born in Mason, N. H., October 15, 1773 ; he was a lenial 
descendant of Richard Sawtelle who settled in Watertown, Mass., 
as early as 1636, and subsequently settled in Groton, Mass., from 
whom sprung nearly all the Sawtelles of New England. John 
Sawtelle married Martha Wallingsford, April 19, 1797, and set- 
tled in the extreme south part of Milford. He was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits ; from here he removed to the southwest 
part of Brookline, in the spring of 1813, residing here until the 
spring of 1815, when he bought of David Willoby, the farm so 
long owned by Charles S. Spaulding, situated on the southeast- 
ern slope of Rocky Pond Hill, Hollis. Mr. Sawtelle was an 
honest, industrious and worthy citizen of Hollis. 

His children were: Martha, born in Milford, October 6, 
1797; married John Gutterson, August 15, 1816; died March 21, 
1873. Eli N., born in Milford, September 8, 1799; married 

; residence, Alexander, N. H. Abigail, born in Milford, 

June 27, 1801 ; married Luther Shedd ; residence, Alexander, N. 
H. Ephraim, born in Milford, August 12, 1803. Luke, born in 
Milford, November 23, 1805; died the same month. David W., 
born in Milford, September 9, 1806 ; married Sarah P. Farley, 
November 24, 1831 ; married for second wife, Sarah J. Rideout, 
December 23, 1847 ; married for third wife, Mrs. Abby Farley, 
1858. Medad, born in Milford, September 24, 1808 ; had a hair- 
lip, died December 15, 1818. Hannah W., born in Milford, July 
8, 1810; married Luther Hardy, Febru;:ry 22, 3830; died Decem- 
ber 13, 3871; residence, Francistown. Susan E., born in Mil- 
ford, July 1, 1812 ; married . Cynthianna, born in 

Hollis, August 30, 1816; married Jones; died in 1890; 

residence, Tennessee. 

John Sawtelle died June 19, 1828, at homestead in Hollis. 
Mrs. Sawtelle died February 18, 1834, at homestead in Hollis. 



178 

Deacon THOMAS PATCH. 

Deacon Thomas Patch, son of , was born in Groton, 

Mass., in 1714. He married Anna Gilson, March 25, 1742, and 
immediately settled in the Pine Hill section of Hollis, and engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. That he was of Puritanical mould and 
a venerable Pharisee is evinced by his being selected by our pious 
Forefathers to perform the office of Deacon of the Church to 
which he was chosen in 1745. The place where Deacon Patch 
located was then Dunstable, N. H. 

His children were : Anna, born in Dunstable, November 20, 
1742. Thomas, born in Dunstable, January 17, 1745 ; married 
Molly Upton in 1771 ; residence, Hollis. Sarah, born in Dun- 
stable, March 9, 1746. Joseph, born in Dunstable, August 24, 
1749. First settled in Warren, N. H., in 1767. David, born in 
Dunstable, August 2, 1751. Daniel, born in Dunstable, October 
9, 1753. 

Deacon Thomas Patch, died May 1, 1754, aged 40 years. 



179 

THOMAS PATCH, Junior. 

Thomas Patch, Jr., son of Deacon Thomas and Anna Gilson 
Patch, was born in Dunstable, N. H., January 17, 1745. He mar- 
ried Mary Upton of Wilmington, Mass., in 1771, and settled on 
the Samuel Leeman place, situated south of Patch Corner in 
Hollis, now 1911, occupied by Fred W. Wheeler. Mr. Patch 
carried on extensive farming and hop raising for many years, 
carrying his produce to Boston market with an ox team as then 
the custom was. Mr. Patch served in the war of the Revolution, 
was in Captain Dow's Company at Bunker Hill, and at Ticon- 
deroga, six months. 

His children were: Thomas, 3rd, born in HolHs, October 
10, 1771; married Anna Stickney of Billerica, in 1796. Mary, 
born in Hollis, March 1, 1773 ; married Joshua Hayden, April 
19, 1797. Lydia, born in Hollis, September 21, 1774; married 
Thomas Moore, December 1, 1814. Richard, born in Hollis, May 
26, 1776; no record. David, born in Hollis, October 6, 1778; 
married Sally Rea, March 28, 1803 ; she died May 22, 1823 ; mar- 
ried for second wife, Mrs. Mary T. Evans, June 8, 1826 ; he died 
August 10, 1836. Rachel, born in Hollis, May 27, 1780 ; married 
Peter Colburn, January 23, 1800 ; died May, 1855. Sally, born 
in Hollis, August 21, 1782 ; married Stephen Wright ; married 

for second wife, Butterick. Daniel, born in Hollis, 

September 7, 1784; died in Maine unmarried. Joseph, born in 
Hollis, May 4, 1791; married Sally Johnson, December 31, 1818; 
died . 

Mr. Thomas Patch, died November 7, 1828. aged about 84. 
Mrs. Thomas Patch, died at the old homestead. 



180 

Major LUTHER HUBBARD. 

Major Luther Hubbard, son of Thomas and Lois White Hub- 
bard, was born in Hollis, August 13, 1782. He married Hannah 
Russell, of Carlisle, Mass., December 18, 1806, and settled at the 
Page Wright place, Butterfield Hill, Hollis ; he purchased this 
place of John Ball, of whom he learned the stone cutting trade, 
which he worked at during his life time. Mr. Hubbard acquired 
the title of Major, although he never held a Major's commission. 
In 1834, Mr. Hubbard moved to Kendall Mills at North Hollis, 
residing here until the fall of 1836, he then removed to near Rid- 
dles in Merrimac, from here he went to Manchester about 1845, 
residing here until his death, with his son, Thomas RusseH. 

His children were : Luther Prescott, born in Hollis, June 
30, 1808; married Sarah O. Johnson, November 28, 1833; she 
died December 29, 1840; married for second wife, Mary C. Pen- 
ney, November 29, 1848. Mary Ann, born in Hollis, December 
25, 1809; married WilHam Bowers, December 22, 1830. Han- 
nah, born in Hollis, November 9, 1811 ; married James C. Chan- 
nel, November 18, 1831 ; died May 18, 1834. Thomas, born in 
Hollis, November 20, 1813 ; died July 21, 1815. Elizabeth, born 
in Hollis, in 1815. Thomas Russell, born in Hollis. October 15, 
1817 ; married ; residence at Manchester. 

Major Hubbard died at Manchester. N. H., March 2, 1857. 
Mrs. Hubbard died at Manchester, June 21, 1870. 



181 

JACOB SPALDING. 

Jacob Spalding, son of Edward and Susanna Crosby Spald- 
ing, was born in Billerica, May 9, 1756. He remained with his 
Father during his minority, joined the Hollis minute-men prior 
to the Revolution, was at Concord and Lexington, was in Cap- 
tain Dow's Company at battle of Bunker Hill, at Ticonderoga 
Alarm in 1777, at Rhode Island, in 1778. Mr. Spalding married 
Esther Shedd in 1782, and settled for a time at the old place, 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. Tradition says he removed 
to the Pine Hill section of old Dunstable, where he opened a 
hotel which he kept for several years, returning to Hollis, to re- 
side prior to 1815. That year, his widow Esther Spalding was 
taxed for old homestead in Hollis, as a resident. The old barn 
built by Jacob Spalding is still (1911) standing on the place 
situated in the east part of the town, west of the Poor farm place. 

His children were : Esther, born September 3, 1782 ; died 
young. Abigail, born May 12, 1784. Esther, born July 8, 1786 ; 
married Joseph Powers. Abraham, born July 17, 1788. Rachel, 
born August 28, 1789. Isaac, born October 13, 1791. Rebecca, 
born January 15, 1794; married John P. Gilson, March 6, 1818. 
Sally, born April 17, 1797. EHzabeth, born April 17, 1799. 
Jacob, Jr., born March 8, 1803. Sybel, born July 14, 1805; 
married Leonard Shipley, April 9, 1829. 

Jacob Spalding died about 1814. Buried at Pine Hill Yard ; 
no grave stone. 



182 

WILLIAM BLANCHARD. 

William Blanchard, son of Thomas and Ruth Adams Blan- 
chard, was born in Dunstable, in 1701, He married Deliverance 
Searles, a daughter of Samuel Searles, of Dunstable, and re- 
moved to West Dunstable, prior to 1738. He was one of the 
first settlers to locate in the east part of the town, his place being 
on the east side of Flint's Hill. 

Mr. Blanchard's first employment was clearing oflF the forest, 
building of the log huts, making paths, etc. ; he signed the peti- 
tion to the General Court of Massachusetts to erect the western 
portion of old Dunstable into a township, dated December 12, 
1739. 

His name is appended to a list of West Dunstable inhabitants 
to support the Rev. Daniel Emerson under date of January 17, 
1743, and he also signed a petition to the General Court of New 
Hampshire for a scout or guard to protect them against Indian 
invasion, dated June 18, 1744. 

His children were : Olive, born November 4, 1733, in Dun- 
stable; married Samuel Whittemore, May 27, 1755. Nathaniel, 
born December 25, 1735, in Dunstable; married Elizabeth Rolph, 
September 13, 1757. 



183 
SAMUEL OBER. 

Samuel Ober, was born in Beverly, Mass., in 1733, and for 
many years was a resident of this quaint old town. He married 

Abigail , about 1771, residing in Beverly until 1778, 

when he removed to the south part of Amherst, N. H., and set- 
tled north of Peacock village, opposite the John Philbrick place, 
residing here until about 1795, when he removed to the Lot 
Mooar place on Mooars hill, at North Hollis, where he remained 
during his life time, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Ober 
was a quiet, industrious, unpretentious citizen of the town ; re- 
spected by all who knew him. 

His children were: Samuel, Jr., born in Beverly, in 1773. 
Joseph, born in Beverly, in 1775 ; he came to Hollis with his par- 
ents ; went away ; never heard from him. Rebecca, born in 
Beverly, in 1777; married Abel Spalding, October 11, 1799; resi- 
dence, Hollis and Milford ; died in 1859. John, born in Am- 
herst, July 25, 1779 ; married Sally Peacock, April 6, 1802 ; resi- 
dence, Amherst. Zachariah, born in Amherst, in 1781 ; married 
Abigail Hardy, June 10, 1802 ; residence, Homestead. Abigail, 
born in Amherst in 1783 ; married Phineus Lovejoy, September 
22, 1804 ; residence, Hollis and Hebron. Elizabeth, born in Am- 
herst, in 1785 ; married Stephen Lund, September 12, 1810 ; resi- 
dence, Merrimac. 

Samuel Ober, died May 24, 1813, age 80. Buried in North 
Yard, Hollis. Mrs. Abigail Ober, his wife, died December 12, 
1838, age 93. Buried in North Yard, Hollis. 



184 

ZACHARIAH OBER. 

Zachariah Ober, son of Samuel and Abigail Ober, was born 
in Amherst, in 1781. He came to Hollis with his parents about 
1795. He married Abigail Hardy, June 10, 1802, a daughter of 
Aaron and Abigail Dutton Hardy. 

Mr. Hardy settled on the homestead farm at Mooars Hill, 
North Hollis. He was engaged in farming, remaining until 
about 1820, then removed to Washington, N. H., residing on 
one of those hilly farms until about 1832, at which time he went 
to Newbury, in the North part of Ohio State, where he resided 
during the remainder of his life time. 

His children were all born in Hollis : Hepsibah, born March 
21, 1803. Reuben H., born December 15, 1804. Herman, born 
August 15, 1806. Mary, born July 17, 1808. Abigail, born Oc- 
tober 21, 1811. Zachariah, Jr., born February 7, 1813. Luke, 

born , 1814. Harriet, born , 1816. Elizabeth, 

born , 1818. 



185 

ONESIPHORUS MARSH. 

Onesiphorus Marsh, son of Onesiphorus Marsh, a descendant 
of George Marsh of old Hingham, England, who came to New 
England, with the Rev. Peter Hobart, in 1635, and settled in 
Hingham, Mass. Later this family removed to Dracutt, and sub- 
sequently to Hudson, N. H., one of the first settlers there. Mr. 
Marsh was born in Hudson, N. H., in 1720. He married Lydia 

, in 1743. He removed from Hudson to Monson, in 

1758, and settled in the southern part of the town on the hill 
west of the John Shedd place now (1911), owned and occupied 
by Deacon J. Hayden heirs, being the first settler here we have a 
record of. Mr. Marsh removed to Plymouth, N. H., in the 
spring of 1765, being one of the grantees of this township, he 
went to occupy his land grant. His wife, Lydia, died about this 
time. He married for his second wife, Mrs, Dorothy Blodgett 
Thompson, in 1768. 

Mr. Marsh served in the war of the Revolution in Colonel 
David Hobarts battalion at battle of Bennington. 

His children were: Samuel, born in Hudson, N. H., Febru- 
ary 14, 1744 ; married Olive Brown, November 30, 1769 ; married 
for second wife, Hannah Worcester, August 30, 1786 ; died Sep- 
tember 19, 1812. Jacob, born in Hudson, April 17, 1746 ; married 
Sarah Phillips, December 31, 1773 ; died February 23, 1824. Ly- 
dia, born in Hudson, January 15, 1750 ; married Noah Phillips, 
April 23, 1772. Mary, born in Hudson, August 29, 1752 : died at 
Monson, February 15, 1759. Sarah, born in Plymouth, in 1769 ; 
married John Rideout, December 2, 1787; died June 23, 1846. 

Mr. Marsh died at Plymouth, August 8, 1808, aged 88. 



186 

JAMES STEWART. 

James Stewart came to West Dunstable, prior to 17-10, from 
what place we are unable to say, coming with his wife, and settling 
at a point southeast of Long Pond, near Tyng Hill, on the old 
road leading from Hollis to Lyon's bridge in Amherst. On the 18th 
of June, 1744, Mr. Stewart was chosen to present a petition to 
Colonial Court of New Hampshire, asking for a scout or guard 
of twenty-five to guard the inhabitants of the West Parish of 
Dunstable against Indian invasion ; these garrisons were located 
in all parts of the town, 6 in number. He presented the petition 
at the Court's session in Portsmouth the 22nd day of June, 1744. 

It does not appear whether they sent the soldiers as requested 
or not; nor does it appear that the Indians came to molest the 
settlers. There is a tradition that Mr. Stewart removed to Jaf- 
frey, N. H., about 1750. At about this time the Selectmen layed 
the road leading from Hollis village to Patch Corner, by the 
east shore of Long Pond, taking the travel from past his log 
hut, on the old road. 

His children were : James, born October 15, 1742. Thomas, 
born September 29, 1744. Peter, born June 13, 1746. Jerath- 
maeel, born March 14, 1748. 

While Mr, Stewart was here he was engaged in building a 
dam for flowing water from one brook to another, interested 
parties went in the night time and broke the dam ; the place 
where the dam was, was known for many years as Stewart's 
folly. 



187 

JOHN ATWELL, Senior. 

John Atwell, one of those hardy pioneer settlers who prob- 
ably came up from Lynn, Mass., and remained a portion of the 
time about the year 1735, said to be the eighth settler in West 
Dunstable ; he located at the head of Long Pond, where he pur- 
chased land of the original proprietors of Dunstable, clearing off 
a portion and erecting his log hut, making improvements, and 
hunting and trapping, residing here a portion of the time until 
the spring of 1751, when he sold to Phuneas Hardy of Bradford, 
Mass. Mr. Atwell left very little available record ; he seemed 
to be one of those so far as any history is concerned that crawled 
into a hole and to have pulled the hole in after him. 

His children so far as known were: Joseph, born March 18, 

1698; married . Nathan, born in 1700; married Anna 

Ramsdell, November 22, 1723. John, born October 16, 1702; 
married ; residence in Connecticut. 

Mr. Atwell owned about eight acres of land here ; it does not 
appear by the Hollis records that he ever was taxed for it. 

John Atwell, Sr., who came to West Dunstable in 1735, was 
a grandson of John Atwell, who came over from Devonshire, 
England, and settled at Casco Bay, Maine, about the year 1635 ; 
he removed to Lynn, Mass., about 1660. He married Margaret 
Max of Wenham about 1696, He was a son of John Atwell. 



188 

JOHN ATWELL. 

John Atwell, son of Nathan Atwell, was born about 1736. 
He married Bridgett Cummings, November 13, 1760, and settled 
at the Captain Benjamin Farley place in Hollis village. Mr. 
Atwell was engaged in farming and coopering. According to the 
town records he served as janitor at the Church several years. 
On one of those years the record reads : That Mr. Atwell is to 
open the meeting-house in good season, is to sweep the paths in 
winter, and clear off the horse blocks, and if he does this to the 
satisfaction of the Selectemn, he is to have 4-6, four shilHng and 
six pence, or in other words, 75 cents ; if not done as requested 
he was to have nothing ; whether he received something or noth- 
ing the record does not state. 

His children as found recorded : John, 3rd, born in Hollis, 
June 6, 1761 ; married Tabatha Fairfield, February 1, 1798. Wil- 
liam, born in Hollis, May 7, 1763 ; killed by the upsetting of a load 
of wood, January 16, 1778. Nathan, born in Hollis, June 13, 
1766. Jonathan, born in HolHs, February 31, 1768. Bridgett, 
born in Hollis, May 24, 1770 ; married Davis Holden, Jr., January 
1, 1789. Ebenezer, born in HolHs, November 22, 1772. Josiah 
R., born in Hollis, May 27, 1775. James, born in Hollis, February 
3, 1777 ; married Sarah Lawrence, March 4, 1798. Becca, born 
in Hollis, January 28, 1787. 

Mr. Atwell served in the war of the Revolution from Hollis. 
Mr. Atwell was a grandson of John Atwell, who settled at Long 
Pond, in 1735. 



189 

JOSHUA CLARK. 

Joshua Clark, one of those easy going characters, who came 
blundering into the settlement about 1770, I am unable to state 
who his parents were, or where he came from. He had married 

Susanna . He settled south of Peacock village near 

Amherst line at North Hollis. He lived in a little old hut, and 
commenced life with nothing and held his own remarkably well. 

He was engaged a portion of the time in cutting wood and 
burning it into coal; this he would team to Boston the only 
market at that time. His team usually consisted of an old stag 
and his cow yoked together ; at one time his cow gave out on the 
journey, he was overheard to say, muttering to himself: "I 
assure ye I must keep more oxen and less cows." 

Mr. Clark used to carry all kinds of farm products for his 
neighbors, do errands, and bring back articles for family use. At 
one time no one sent by him, he was overheard to say : "I assure 
ye I've nothing to do, but go down, unload, and ride back." All 
the bastard wit of the neighborhood was palmed ofif onto Josh. 
Clark. He had one son, Joshua, Jr., born in 1771. He married 
and resided in PVancistown. Mr. Clark died in January, 1806. 
His wife, Susanna died April 27, 1817, aged 74. 



190 

EBENEZER FARLEY, Senior. 

Ebenezer Farley, son of Lieut. Benjamin and Joanna Farley, 
was born in Hollis, September 19, 1747. He married Betty 
Wheeler, born in 1766. Mr. Farley purchased of the Mortgagee 
the Thomas Nevins place, situated near Pennichuck pond in the 
northeast part of Hollis, for the sum of four hundred pounds 
Continental money, and settled here about 1780. Mr. Farley 
served in the war of the Revolution from Hollis at Concord and 
Lexington in New York, in 1776. 

His children were as follows : Benjamin, born in Hollis, 
Februar}^ 1, 1767 ; married Anna Merrill in 1789 ; residence, Hol- 
lis and Vermont. Lucy, born in Hollis, September 3, 1768 ; mar- 
ried James Jewett, January 17, 1789 ; married for second husband, 
John Shedd, November 5, 1797. Joanna, born in Hollis, March 
March 22, 1770; married Abijah Shedd, November 15, 1792. 
Betty, born in Hollis, March 18. 1772 ; married Hezekiah Dunck- 
lee, in 1792; died August 6, 1820. Ebenezer, Jr., born in Hollis, 
March 4, 1774; married Abigail Farmer, September 12. 1796; 
residence, homestead. Hannah, born in Hollis, December 1, 
1775 ; married Solomon Wheeler, August 25, 1791. John, born 
in Hollis, December 13, 1777 ; no record. Daniel, born in Hollis, 
October 28, 1779 ; married ; went to Michigan. Jesse, born in 
Hollis, June 26, 1781; married Mary Phelps, October 1, 1803; 
died in November, 1826. Sarah, born in Hollis, April 23, 1783 ; 
married Minot Wheeler, April 28. 1800. Rebecca, born in Hol- 
lis, December 15, 1784; married Gibbs, April, 1805. 

Susannah, born in Hollis, February 3, 1787; married William 
F. Phelps, January 1, 1806. James, born in Hollis. May 21, 
1791 ; married Jane Wright, January 1, 1811 ; residence, Hollis. 

Mr. Ebenezer Farley, died Jan. 28, 1827, age about 80. Mrs. 
Betty Farley, his wife died January 6, 1820, age 74. 



191 

EBENEZER FARLEY, Junior. 

Ebenezer Farley, Jr., son of Ebenezer and Betty Wheeler 
Farley, was born in Hollis, March 4, 1774. He remained with 
his parents during his minority. He married Abigail Farmer, 
September 12, 1796, and succeeded to the homestead; his father 
giving him one-half of the home place. He was engaged in 
farming and coopering, teaming the barrels to Boston with an 
ox team. Mr. Farley was an ardent Democrat of the Jefiferson 
School, and brought all his boys up well grounded in the party 
faith. 

His children were as follows : Ebenezer, born in Hollis, 
April 19, 1797; married Leafy Duncklee, September 16, 1817. 
Minot, born in Hollis, May 22, 1798 ; married Zeraiah Phelps, 
November 9, 1820 ; died April 26. 1875. Abigail, born in Hollis, 
June 2, 1800; married Silas Hardy, June 29, 1826; residence, 
Antrim. Betsey, bom in Hollis, March 7, 1801 ; died September 
4, 1803. Eliza, born in Hollis, February 24, 1805 ; died at home- 
stead unmarried, September 25, 1848. Daniel, born December 
4, 1806 ; married Polly Farley, March 21, 1833 ; died February 
8, 1887; residence Hollis. Louisana, born December 4, 1808, 
died February 24, 1817, age 8 years. Sally born August 25, 
1803 ; married Daniel Colburn, March 14, 1822 ; residence, Hollis. 
James, born June 10, 1813 ; married Martha T. Mooar April 17, 
1838 ; residence, Hollis ; died May 25, 1891. Susan, bom in 
Hollis, June 6, 1816 ; died June 20, 1816. William, born January 
20, 1810 ; married Marinda Kidder, 1844 ; residence, Nashua. 
Hannah, born August 25, 1820 ; died December 1, 1822. Asenath, 

born November 10, 1817 ; married Samuel Ober , 1858. 

died June 23, 1892. A daughter, born November 18, 1811 ; died 
same day. 

Mr. Ebenezer Farley, Jr., died November 3, 1860, age 86. 
Mrs. Abigail Farley, his wife, died August 13, 1849, 



192 

BENJAMIN FARLEY, 3rd. 

Benjamin Farley, 3rd, son of Ebenezer and Betty Wheeler 
Farley, was born in Hollis, February 1, 1767. He married Anna 
Merrill, of Hudson, N. H., in 1789, and removed to Danville, 
Vermont ; he remained only a few years, then returned to Hollis, 
and settled on the old Israel Mead place, on Witch Brook, below 
Cobbett, at North Hollis, where he engaged in farming and 
coopering. He was an honest hard working man, an early riser, 
and in fair circumstances. 

His children were: Benjamin, known as Squeaker Ben., 
born October 3, 1789; married Mehitable Blood in 1813; resi- 
dence, Merrimac. Anna, born June 10, 1791 ; married Eri Mc- 
Daniells, March 19, 1838. Polly, born February 18, 1794; 
married Benjamin Carter, November 22, 1818. Rebecca, born 
August 7, 1796 ; married Moses Hardy, Jr. Enoch, born July 22, 
1798 ; married Abigail Hardy, April 16, 1822. Lucy, born Octo- 
ber 13, 1803; married Reuben Baldwin 1821; died March 29, 
1883. Ebenezer, born March 26, 1800; died April 29, 1800. 
David, born July 4, 1801 ; died July 5, 1801. Merrill, born May 
6, 1806 ; died of spotted fever, January 8, 1815. Edward Page, 
born December 26, 1808 ; died of spotted fever, January 5, 1815. 

Mr. Benjamin Farley, died April 27, 1827, age 60. Mrs. 
Anna Farley, died February 18, 1816, age 50. 



193 

JESSE FARLEY. 

Jesse Farley, son of Ebenezer and Betty Wheeler Farley, was 
born in Hollis, June 26, 1781. He married Mary Phelps, October 
17, 1803, and settled on a part of his father's homestead farm, 
in the northeast part of the town near Pennichuck pond. Mr. 
Farley was engaged in agricultural pursuits ; he was an honest, 
industrious and respected citizen of the town. He was well versed 
in the political history of the country, and being an uncompro- 
mising Jeffersonian had the faculty of imparting the knowledge 
he possessed to others. 

His children were : Mary, born in Hollis, July 1, 1804 ; mar- 
ried John Hardy; died January 29, 1870. Jefiferson, born in 
Hollis, January 10, 1807; died February 12, 1816, age 9 years. 
Leonard, born in Hollis, March 17, 1809 ; married Sally Mooar, 
September 2, 1830; died November 16, 1891. Mark, born in 
Hollis, March 21, 1811 ; married Mary S. Crosby, August 25, 
1834; died June 22, 1872. John, born in Hollis, May 10, 1813; 
married Hannah Blood, June 7, 1837 ; died November 17, 1901. 
Albert, born in Hollis, March 28, 1815 ; married Sarah Fulson, 
in 1836 ; died January 13, 1840. Alfred, born March 28, 1815 ; 

married Lydia Farley, August 31, 1837; died ; married 

for second wife, Mary W. Eastman, October 19, 1865. Susan, 
bom March 13, 1817 ; married Rufus N. WalHngford, January 
29, 1845; died December 2, 1890. Jefferson, born August 19, 
1819; married Charlotte M. Farley, September 15, 1842. Har- 
riet, born August 19, 1819 ; married Nathaniel G. Firnald, Janu- 
ary 29, 1845 ; died December 18, 1884. Sophia P., born May 25, 
1825 ; married John E. Foster, February 15, 1848. 

Mr. Jesse Farley, died October 26, 1826. Mrs. Mary Farley, 
his wife, died by hanging, August 1, 1827. 



194 

JAMES FARLEY. 

James Farley, son of Ebenezer, Sr., and Betty Wheeler Far- 
ley, was born in Hollis, May 21, 1791. He assisted his father on 
the farm, and in the cooper shop in his youth. He married Jane 
Wright, January 1, 1811. She was a daughter of Samuel Wright 
of Hollis. Mr. Farley settled at the Cobbett place, at North 
Hollis, but only remained there a short time, then removed to the 
foot of Long Hill, at Long Pond, occupying the old James Stew- 
art place, where he resided cultivating his snug little farm during 
the remainder of his life-time. 

Mr. Farley was a gentleman of the old school, standing 
straight, and fully six feet tall. He said that when a lad during 
the Presidential Campaign of 1800, that his parents sent him on 
an errand to their neighbor, Joseph Nevins, who was an ardent 
Federalist, who told him if Jefferson was elected President, he 
would destroy the Bibles, and burn all the Churches. 

His children were: Jane, born in Hollis, September 15, 
1811; married Freeman Wallace, November 21, 1837; residence, 
Vermont. James, 3rd, born in Hollis, March 22, 181-i ; married 
Lucinda Colburn, January, 1842 ; residence, homestead. Susan, 
born in Hollis, December 12, 1817; married Alpheus Rideout ; 
residence, Hollis. Samuel Dexter, born May 31, 1819 ; died un- 
married. Sarah Elizabeth, born in Hollis, March 3, 1822 ; mar- 
ried Charles March, November 25, 1851 ; residence. Bethel, Ver- 
mont. Hannah, born in Hollis, November 16, 1824 ; married 

John Hardy, January 1, 1845. Lucy Ann, born in HolHs, ; 

married Asher Jewett ; residence, Dunstable, Mass. Lucretia, 
born in Hollis, September 28, 1831 ; married Nathan J. Col- 
burn; residence, Temple and Hollis. 

James Farley died at his home in Hollis, October 26, 1873, 
aged 83. 



195 

Captain CALEB FARLEY. 

Captain Caleb Farley, son of Joseph Farley of Billerica, was 
born in Billerica, October 19, 1730. He married Elizabeth Farley 
of Billerica, October 11, 1754, and settled at or near the old home- 
stead, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Farley served in the 
old French War from Billerica, in the Crown Point expedition 
of 1755. He removed from Billerica to Hollis, in November, 
1765, and settled at one Pine Hill, as it was called, locating at the 
Deacon Noah Farley place, and at once became a prominent and 
influential citizen, serving the town as one of their Selectmen in 
1767. Mr. Farley served in the war of the Revolution, in Col. 
Pierce Long's Regiment, for New York, in 1776, in 1778, was 
Lieut, in Capt. Daniel Emerson's company for Rhode Island. 

Mr. Farley buried his wife, Elizabeth, , and he 

married for second wife, Widow Lucy Shipley, November 2, 
1806, but she never lived with him. 

His children were : Elizabeth, born in Billerica, August 24, 
1755; married Zachariah Shattuck, Jr., November 28, 1771. 
Joseph, born in Billerica, May 1, 1757 ; married Bridget Powers, 
December 18, 1777; killed by tree, 1782. Caleb, Jr., born in 
Billerica, April 3, 1759 ; married Abigail Phelps, April 12, 1781 ; 
residence, Hollis ;, had fourteen children. James, born in Bille- 
rica, April 12, 1761. Lieut. Benjamin, born in Billerica, June 27, 
1763 ; married Mary Blodgett, February 15, 1787 ; residence, 

homestead, eleven children. John, born in Billerica, May , 

1765. Thomas, born in Hollis, December 28, 1769 ; married 
Polly Jewell, December 16, 1794; married for second wife, Su- 
sanna Burge, April 16, 1799. Rev. Abel, born in Hollis, July 
17, 1773. Pastor of Cong-Church at Goshen, Mass. ; died March 
22, 1817. 

Capt. Caleb Farley died at his home in Hollis, April 5. 1833. 
Age 102 years and five months. 



196 

SAMUEL FARLEY. 

Samuel Farley, son of Benjamin and Lydia Moore Farley, 
was born in Billerica, Mass., in 1718. According to West Dun- 
stable records, he came here in the spring of 1739. He was one 
of the signers in the second petition for a Parish Charter, Decem- 
ber 12, 1739. He became an industrious and worthy citizen 
of the new settlement. Mr. Farley married Hannah Brown, Oc- 
tober 9, 1744, and settled in that part of West Dunstable, now 
the east part of Brookline, on the Pepperell road at a point 
known as the Jim Edson place. He also signed the petition of 
the inhabitants of West Dunstable, asking the General Court 
of New Hampshire, for a scout of men to guard them against 
Indian invasion. 

The descendants of Mr. Farley became prominent and in- 
fluential citizens in the community in which they lived. 

His children as published in Worcester's history were : Ebe- 
nezer, born in West Dunstable, October 9, 1745. Samuel, Jr., 
born in Hollis, March 14, 1747 ; residence, Groton. Hannah, born 
in Hollis, January 27, 1749. Benjamin, born in Hollis, March, 
1756 ; married Lucy Fletcher, June 18, 1780. Anna, born in 
Hollis, February 19, 1768. 



197 

BENJAMIN FARLEY, Esq. 

Benjamin Farley, Esq., son of Samuel and Hannah Brown 
Farley, was born March 11, 1756. He remained on the paternal 
homestead situated in the west part of Hollis, during 'his minor- 
ity. He enlisted into the war of the Revolution, serving in the 
army six months in 1776. Mr. Farley married Lucy Fletcher, 
June 18, 1780, after a time he settled at the Samuel Little place 
in Hollis, (now 1911), occupied by Mrs. Maria Shedd, where he 
opened a hotel, which he kept for several years. Mr. Farley's 
tavern was a place of popular resort, where Revolutionary stories 
were recited. 

He was a prominent citizen and enjoyed the confidence of 
his fellow-townsmen, having served them as one of their Select- 
men in 1729. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

His children were: Sarah and Betsey, born June 3, 1781. 
Betsey, married Dr. Noah Hardy, November 9, 1817. Benja- 
min Mark, born August 8, 1783 ; married Lucretia Gardner, of 
Leominster, Mass. Lucy, born December 26, 1784. Luther, 
born December 25, 1786. Charles, born October 13, 1788. Ben- 
jamin, born February 20, 1791. George Fred, born April 5, 
1793 ; married Lucy Rice, in December, 1823 ; residence, New 
Ipswich. Percy, born September 12, 1798. Clarissa, born No- 
vember 12, 1801 ; married Obadiah T. Eaton, April 9, 1829. 

His wife, Lucy, died . He married for a second 

wife, Widow Susanna Smith, January 30, 1831. 



198 

BENJAMIN M. FARLEY, Esq. 

Benjamin Mark Farley, Esq., a son of Benjamin, Esq., and 
Lucy Fletcher Farley, was born in Brookline, N. H., August 8, 
1783. He graduated at Harvard College in 1804. Mr. Farley 
settled as a lawyer in Hollis in 1808, where he continued to reside 
until 1855, when he removed to Boston. Upon being established 
in his profession, he soon rose to a high rank, and for many 
years had no superior at the Hillsborough County bar. Although 
a Whig in his political faith, his standing and popularity with 
his fellow-townsmen is shown by the fact that between the years 
1814 and 1829, he was elected in eleven different years to repres- 
ent the town in the General Court. He was for several years 
one of the Selectmen. At one time he was the Whig candidate 
for member of Congress, his party being then in the minority 
he failed of an election. 

Mr. Farley married Lucretia Gardner, , and settled 

on Main Street, in Hollis village, where he remained until he 
was burned out in the spring of 1855. 

His children were : Lucretia G., born January 14, 1806, 
Benjamin F., born November 25, 1808. John G., born October 
10, 1810 ; died December, 1813. Lucinda, born July, 1815 ; died 
April, 1817. Sarah G., born May 18, 1817. Lucy F., born 
December 19, 1818. Martha, born December 19, 1818; died 
J:muary, 1819. 

Mrs. Lucretia Farley, wife of Benjamin M. Farley, died 
April 29, 1819, age 35. 

Benjamin M. Farley, Esq., died September 16, 1865, aged 82. 



199 

OLIVER BOWERS. 

Oliver Bowers, belonging to the Bowers family of Chelms- 
ford, a descendant of Jerathmael Bowers, coming to Hollis, in 
the spring of 1775, and settled in the Witch brook valley at 
North Hollis, at a place known in later years, as the John Shedd 
farm, the first settler there we have any record of. Mr. Bowers 
was influential in establishing the north cemetery near his resi- 
dence in 1778. He served as sexton for this yard many years ; 
he also served the town on various committees. On one occa- 
sion in 1787, he was elected on a famous road committee, to 
straighten the highway at North Hollis, commencing at the 
Kendall Mill place, now (1913) owned by Hayden Brothers, 
thence through where Maria Hill's house now stands, and along 
the west side of the hill coming out at the old Spalding place. 
This committee laid out the road, but the Selectmen refused to 
build it. 

Mr. Bowers had three sons, who served in the Revolution 
from Hollis, Viz: Oliver, Jr., ; married in 1782; re- 
sided at Old Monson. Jerathmael, ; married Hannah 

Danforth, February 10, 1791 ; residence, Hebron. Henry, , 

was in the battle of Bennington. 

For reason not apparent neither of Mr. Bowers' sons took 
care of him in his old age. John Shedd, of Billerica, came 
here in 1790, took care of Mr. Bowers, and had the place for 
doing it. 



200 

JAMES BOWERS. 

James Bowers, a son of John and Abiah Goodhue Bowers, 
was born in Dracut, Mass., February 19, 1780. He resided with 
his parents during his minor years. He married Polly Currior 
of Pelham, N. H., a daughter of Simeon and Lucy Cook Cur- 
rior and subsequently settled at North Hollis, N. H., on land 
of Asaph Spalding on the hill west of Pennichuck pond at the 
Mooars place so-called. Mr. Bowers was a common farm laborer 
working out by the day or week. His place of residence was a 
small house near the Fletcher and erected by Mr. Spalding for 
him; he commenced life with nothing, and always remained in 
limited circumstances. He was married January 12, 1818. 

His children were: Mary, born in Hollis, October 20, 1819 ; 
married ; died February 24, 1863. Darius, born in Hol- 
lis, January 22, 1821 ; married ; died February 13, 1898. 

Rebecca, born in Hollis, January , 1823 ; died young. 

Lucy Abiah, born in Hollis, March 22, 1826 ; died February 5, 

1877. Ira, born in Hollis, February 14, 1828 ; married ; 

died February 24, 1898. 

Mr. James Bowers removed to Dracut, in 1828, where he 
died November 5, 1861. 



201 

STEARNS NEEDHAM. 

Stearns Needham, a son of John and Prudence Stearns 
Needham, was born in Tewksbury, Mass., February 25, 1754. 
He married Alice Kidder, a daughter of Jeremiah Kidder, of 

Tewksbury, in , 1779, and settled in Mollis, at a point 

northeast of old Monson village, now in the south part of Mil- 
ford, known as the Wallingsford place. His wife, Alice, died 
February 14, 1780. He married for a second wife, Hannah 
Bailey of Andover, Mass., September 5, 1782. Mr. Needham 
was quite an extensive farmer, having a large landed estate. 
He was well versed in the art of pigeon catching; he raised 
hops as did most other farmers ; he carried all sorts of fann 
products to Boston market, and brought back the silver money, 
from this they called him: "Old Silver Gray." 

His children were: Stearns, born February 3, 1780. died 
the same day, Jeremiah, born February 4, 1780 ; died the same 
day. AHce, born February 4, 1780 ; died the same day. They 
were buried in North Yard at Hollis. James, born May 15, 1783 ; 
died June 8, 1783. Hannah, born March 14, 1784 ; married Ben- 
jamin Wallingsford, November 19, 1807 ; residence, homestead ; 
died September 7, 1859. John, born November 28, 1785 ; mar- 
ried Roxana Barns, in 1820 ; residence, Milford ; died April 25, 
1824, David P., born August 9, 1787 ; married Melinda Keyes, 
May 6, 1813 ; died April 16, 1861. Betsey J., born March 28, 
1789; married William Greenwood, March 10, 1813; residence, 
Ludlow, Vermont ; married for second wife, Lane ; married 3rd, 
Jones ; married 4th, Wite. Samuel B., born February 8, 1791 ; 
married Abigail Hardy, November 25, 1821; residence, Bedford; 
died April 16, 1865. Jeremiah K., born September 20, 1792; 
married Olive Parker, April 18, 1816; residence, HoUis; married 
for second wife, Rahamah Whitney, in 1826; married for third 
wife, Mrs. Betsey Cogswell, in 1837 ; married for fourth wife, 
Mrs. Elizabeth H. Carlton, in 1858. Phineas S., born October 
19, 1794 ; married Hannah G. Averill, November 24, 1818 ; resi- 
dence, Hollis; New York and Ohio. Mary, born October 21, 



202 

1796 ; married Daniel Greenwood ; residence, Dublin, N. H. ; died 
July 5, 1820. Josiah Lock, born August 28, 1800 ; died Decem- 
ber 7, 1821. Sarah, born February 12, 1803; died April 11, 
1820. Harriet, born November 19, 1805 ; married Samuel Hay- 
den, December 31, 1830; residence, Hollis; died January 9, 
1869. 

Mr. Stearns Needham, died at his home in Milford, Febru- 
ary 5, 1830. Mrs. Hannah Needham, his wife, died at home- 
stead, March 2, 1857. 



203 

JEREMIAH K. NEEDHAM. 

Jeremiah K. Needham, a son of Stearns and Hannah Bailey 
Needham, was born in HoUis, September 20, 1792. His matri- 
monial ventures was more numerous than that of most men, hav- 
ing been married four times. First to Olive Parker, April 8, 
1816. She died January 4, 1825. He married for second wife, 
Ruhumer Whitney, March 29, 1836 ; she died October 12, 1836. 
For his third wife, he married Betsey Swallow Cogswell, in Sep- 
tember, 1837; she died in 185. ; and he married for his fourth 
wife, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Carlton, December 2, 1858. It was re- 
ported that he gave her a thousand dollars to marry him. 

Mr. Needham was engaged in ordinary farming and lumber- 
ing. He was located at North Hollis, near Penniohuck Pond at 
the Josiah Parke place. He carried his farm products to Boston 
market. Mr. Needham used to team a large amount of cord 
wood to Nashua village, when manufacturing first began there. 

His children were : Jeremiah, born January 7, 1817 ; married 
Susan Elliott, in 1844 ; residence, in Hollis and Brookline. Isaac 
Parker, born August 9, 1818 ; had one leg amputated ; died No- 
vember 19, 1838. Edmund, born March 9, 1820 ; married Sarah 
White, in 1844 ; residence. South Merrimac ; died March 18, 1853. 
Walter B., born January 25, 1822; married Maria Farley; resi- 
dence, Nashua ; died . William Lock, born June 23, 

1823; married Temperance Cutts, June 13, 1848; residence, 
Lyndsboro; died September 13, 1873. Stearns, born January 23, 
1827. Benjamin Whitney, born February 17, 1828 ; married Han- 
nah Willoby, , 1850 ; residence, Milford ; died . 

David B., born January 27, 1830 ; married . Cornelius 

C, born January 28, 1832 ; died March 30, 1836. Warren W., 
born October 14, 1833; died March 5, 1834. Francis W., born 
March 1, 1835 ; died May 23, 1836. Cornelius E., born July 9, 

1838; married ; residence, in Vermont. Mary E., born 

June 8, 1840 ; married . 

Mr. Needham died at his homestead in Hollis, August 9, 
1862. 



204 

PHINEAS S. NEEDHAM. 

Phineas S. Needham, was a son of Stearns and Hannah Bai- 
ley Needham, was born in Milford, October 19, 1794. In his 
youth, he worked on his father's farm. He married Hannah G. 
Averill of Mount Vernon, N. H., November 24, 1818. 

After a time learned the cloth dressers' trade, and settled 
at the Cobbett Mills, at North Hollis, about 1833, and continued 
to operate that carding and fulling mill, until about 1838, when 
he removed to Western New York, and after a time removed 
to the West part of Ohio, where he resided during the remainder 
of his life. That he died in Hollis, is a mistake. 

Mr. Needham was one of the last to use this mill as a card- 
ing and fulling mill; about 1839, the works were taken out, and 
shingle and lath saws were put in. 

It is stated that while Mr. Needham resided here he became 
involved in a quarrel with his former neighbor, Jonathan Foster, 
Jr., that they threatened to use guns in the melee. 

Mr. Needham died in Ohio, August 15, 1849. 



305 

Rev. MANASSEH SMITH. 

Rev. Manasseh Smith, son of Abijah Smith, was born at 
Leominster, Mass., in 1747. Of his early life, we have no history. 
He graduated at Harvard college, in 1773. Studied for ministry 
and engaged in preaching the Gospel for a time, and serving as 
chaplain in the army for a time during the war of the Revolu- 
tion, and subsequently served as clerk of the Supreme Court of 
Massachusetts, then commenced the study of the law. Mr. Smith 
married Hannah Emerson, February 17, 1774. She was the old- 
est daughter of Rev. Daniel Emerson, of Hollis, N. H. He re- 
moved to Hollis in 1779, and settled in the village engaging in 
the practice of law until 1788, when he removed to Wiscasset, 
Me., where he established himself in his profession and remained 
until the close of his life, conducting an extensive and lucrative 
business. His four sons graduating at Harvard college, became 
lawyers, and ranked high in their profession. 

His children were : Hannah, born October 17, 1774 ; mar- 
ried Samuel Seavy ; residence, Wiscasset. Mary, born February 
1, 1776 ; married Ivory Hovey ; residence, Berwick, Me. Lydia 
Rogers, born December 15, 1777 ; died in Wiscasset in 1858, un- 
married. Mannasseh, Jr., born October 16, 1779 ; married Olive 
Hovey; residence, Warren, Me.; died in 1822. Joseph E., born 
March 6, 1782 ; residence, Boston, where he died. Lucy, born 
September 22, 1783 ; died in Wiscasset in 1842, unmarried. Sam- 
uel E., born March 12, 1788 ; married Louisa S. Fuller; residence, 
Wiscasset; died March, 1860. Edwin, born in 1790; married 
CaroHne E. Head; residence, Warren, Me. 

Manasseh Smith, died at his home in Wiscasset, in 1823. 
Mrs. Hannah Smith, his wife, died in Wiscasset, in 1825. 



806 

Governor SAMUEL E. SMITH. 

Governor Samuel E. Smith, son of Manasseh and Hannah 
Emerson Smith, was born in Hollis, March 12, 1788. He grad- 
uated with distinguished honor, at Harvard College, in 1808, 
read law with the Hon. Samuel Dana, of Groton, Mass. He 
married Louisa S. Fuller, of Maine. He was admitted to the bar 
in Boston in 1812, and afterwards settled in his profession in Wis- 
casset, Maine. Mr. Smith was a member of the Massachusetts 
General Court in 1819 and 1820, and was a Judge of the Court of 
common pleas of Maine, from 1822 to 1830. In September, 
1830, he was elected Governor of the State of Maine, as the Jack- 
son or Democratic candidate, and one of the first elected on the 
Democratic Ticket in the United States, as he was the first and 
only native of Hollis, at that time, honored with the office of 
Chief Executive of a State. 

Mr. Smith was re-elected Governor of Maine, September, 
1831 and 1832, serving the State three years, very acceptably, 
and a very popular Governor. 

After his retirement from the Governorship, he was reap- 
pointed Judge of the Court of common pleas in 1835, which 
office he resigned in 1837, and the same year was appointed Com- 
missioner to revise the Statutes of Maine. 

Few of all our public men who have gone out of the old 
Granite State, were more successful, nor held more responsible 
positions than did Governor Smith. 

He died at his home, in Wiscasset, March 3, 1860, age 72. 



207 

JOHN SMITH. 

John Smith, a descendant of Nottingham Smiths, was born 
in 1748. He came from Nottingham West to Hollis prior to 
1775. He married Sarah Merrill, January 3, 1775, and settled 
at the old Smith Homestead, situated on the West bank of the 
Nashua river, near Runnell's bridge. 

Mr. Smith became one of the substantial citizens of the town ; 
engaged in farming and blacksmithins" : in this last occupation he 
had a large share of the public patronage within his section. 

Mr. Smith moved the house that stood on the premises so 
many years from the Lemuel Hardy place, in the south part of 
the town to his place, on the snow-crust, April 20, 1785, the snow 
three or four feet deep on level. It was said that the building 
was moved over all the fences, and across lots. 

His children were : Margaret, born April 22, 1778 ; married 
Samuel Smith, April 25, 1799. Sarah, born April 25, 1778. Ben- 
jamin, born April 27, 1780; married Nancy Jewett, July 31, 1814. 
Jerusha, born October 4, 1786 ; married Anna Farrar, 

John Smith died at his home, November 8, 1807, aged 59. 



308 



PHINEAS HARDY, Senior. 



Phineas Hardy, Sr., son of Thomas and Martha Hardy, 
was born in Bradford, Mass., July 11, 1736. He married Abigail 
Gage, in May, 1749, and settled in Bradford until the spring of 
1751, when he removed to Hollis, N. H., and settled on land pur- 
chased of John Atwell, Sr., situated at the south end of Long 
Pond. Mr, Hardy soon engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
became a respected citizen of the town. He enlisted into the 
Colonial Army in 1776, and was stationed at Portsmouth, N. H., 
three months. Mr. Hardy's political views coincided with the old 
Federal party, was an adherent of John Adams and a warm 
supporter of his administration. 

His children were as. follows: Elizabeth, born at Bradford, 
July 22, 1750 ; married Thomas iWakefield, November 25, 1773 
residence, Amherst. Martha, born in Hollis, June 24, 1752 ; died 
August 31, 1753. Phineas, Jr., born in Hollis, June 25, 1754 
married Sibbel Shattuck about 1782 ; residence, homestead 
Thomas, born in Hollis, June 11, 1756; married Lucy Colburn 
January 1, 1784 ; residence, Dublin. Deacon Noah, born in Hollis 
September 17, 1758; married Sarah Spofford ; residence. Nelson 
N. H. ; died December 21, 1835. Jesse, born in HolHs, Decem- 
ber 19, 1760 ; married Rebecca Bailey, January 3, 1788 ; married 
for second wife, Rhoda Wood; residence, Hollis; married 3rd, 
Widow Mary Smith. Isaac, born in Hollis, July 9, 1763 ; mar- 
ried Mehitable Boynton, July 3, 1799; married Submit Wheat, 
November 13, 1788. Moses, born in Hollis, May, 1765 ; married 
Abigail Wheat, November 9, 1790; residence, Hollis. Solomon, 
born in Hollis, August 1, 1767; married Mary Bailey, November 
1795 ; residence, Hollis. 

Mr. Hardy died at his home in Hollis, March 7. 1813, age 
86. Mrs. Abigail Hardy, died at her home, April 12, 1808, 
age 82. 

In 1764, Mr. Hardy built the gambret-roof house at the 
head of Long Pond, now standing (1912) in a good State of pre- 
servation and occupied by George A. Colburn. This homestead 
was owned and occupied by the Hardy family about one hundred 
years. 



209 

PHINEAS HARDY, Junior. 

Phineas Hardy, Jr., son of Phineas, Sr., and Abigail Gage 
Hardy, was born in Hollis, June 25, 1754. He remained at 
home assisting his parents during his minority. He joined the 
HolHs. minute-men prior to the war of the Revohition, and en- 
Hsted into Captain Levi Spalding's company of Colonel James 
Reed's Regiment, and was present with his company at the 
battle of Bunker Hill, and was at Portsmouth, N. H., three 
months in 1776, at Cambridge, eight months in 1775. Mr. Hardy 
married Sibbel Shattuck, in 1782, and settled at the old homestead 
and cared for his parents ; engaged in farming, at that time farm- 
ers raised nearly all that was required for family use. They 
carried surplus products to Boston market in those days, often 
times in an ox cart. 

His children were : Isaac, born in Hollis, November 17, 
1782; killed at the battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813. 
Dr. Noah, born in Hollis, March 23, 1785 ; married Betsey Farley, 
November 9, 1817 ; residence, Hollis. Sibbel, born in HolHs, Au- 
gust 5, 1787; died unmarried at homestead, in 1846. Hannah, 
born in Hollis, September 29-, 1789 ; died unmarried at home- 
stead, June 24, 1821. Captain James, born in Hollis, September 
7, 1792; married Mary Smith, April 18, 1816; residence, Hollis. 
Submit, born in Hollis, May 13, 1795; married Moses Wood; 
residence, Hollis. Samuel L., born in Hollis, May 18, 1798; 
married Roxana Duncklee, August 19, 1821 ; residence, Hollis. 
Elizabeth, born in Hollis, April 13, 1803 ; married Abial Steele. 
November 4, 1838 ; residence, Amherst. John G. Hardy, born 
in Hollis, April 7, 1805; died October 21, 1808. 

Mr. Hardy died at his home. May 7, 1835, age 81. 



210 

JESSE HARDY, Senior. 

Jesse Hardy, Sr., was a son of Phineas, Jr., and Abigail 
Gage Hardy, was born in Hollis, December 19, 1760. His boy- 
hood days were spent on the old homestead as was that of most of 
New England boys. He married Rebecca Bailey, January 3, 
1788, and settled on a part of the home farm situated 
on the hill west of Long Pond, so long known as the Amos 
Hardy place. Mr. Hardy's wife died February 19, 1793. He 
married November 25, 1793, Rhoda Wood for his second wife. 
She was a daughter of Abijah Wood. 

Mr. Hardy was an industrious farmer and an honest and re- 
spected citizen of the town. He buried his second wife ; 

and married a widow, Mary Smith, for his third. He served 
in the war of the Revolution at West Point three months in 1780. 

His children were : Rebecca, born in Hollis, February 6, 
1789 ; married William Colburn, May 14, 1810. Martha, born in 
HoUis, August 16, 1790; married Oliver Willoby, Jr., June 20, 
1811. Jesse, born in Hollis, February 29, 1792, and died March 
9, 1793. Jesse, born in Hollis, July 20, 1794; married Eliza 
Mooar, November 19, 1819 ; residence, Hollis. Joel born in Hol- 
lis, February 16, 1796; married Eliza Johnson, October 30, 
1823 ; residence, Hollis. Amos, born in Hollis, September 12, 
1797; married Mary Cumings, November 23, 1817; residence, 
homestead. Eli, born in Hollis, September 16, 1799 ; married 
Eunice B. Williams, residence, Hollis. Luther, born in Hollis, 
December 20, 1802 ; married Hannah W. Sawtelle, February 22, 
1830 ; residence, Hollis and Francistown. Phineas, born in Hol- 
lis, April 29, 1805 ; died September 20, 1808. Daniel, born in 
Hollis, September 8, 1808 ; he was drowned in Long Pond one 
Sunday, in the summer of 1818, when about ten years old. 

Mr. Jesse Hardy, died at his home in Hollis, December 29, 
1816, age 56. 



211 

ISAAC HARDY. 

Isaac Hardy, son of Phineas and Abigail Gage Hardy, was 
born in Hollis, July 9, 1763 ; of his early life, we have no history. 
He married Submit Wheat, November 13, 1788, who died May 
26, 1793, Mr. Hardy then married for a second wife, Mehitable 
Boynton, July 3, 1794, and settled in that part of Hollis, known 
as Shabkin, near Wheeler village so-called, engaged in farming; 
one of those quiet and unassuming citizens. 

So far as the use of money was concerned, it required very 
little in those days to maintain a family compared to what it 
does now. Their main effort was to collect silver money enough 
in the course of the year to pay their taxes. 

His children were : Isaac, born in Hollis, September 9, 
1789. Abraham Temple, born in Hollis, May 7, 1792 ; married. 
Jacob, born in Hollis, November 14, 1795 ; ordained in the Min- 
istry at Strong, Maine, where he died March 1, 1833. Deacon 
John Boynton, born November 6, 1797 ; married Martha Kendall, 
September 2, 1814 ; died April 19, 1880. Abraham Temple Hardy, 
who done so much to build the Baptist Church and society here 
in Hollis. He resided at the old Emerson house in Hollis vil- 
lage ; he sold out and removed to Salem, Mass., in April, 1841. 



212 . 

MOSES HARDY, Senior. 

Moses Hardy, Sr., son of Phineas, Sr., and Abigail Gage 
Hardy, was born in Hollis, May 17, 1765. He married Abigail 
Wheat, November 9, 1790, and settled on what was formerly be- 
longing to the Wheat Estate, situated in the east part of the 
town, engaged in farming. He raised up a large family of boys, 
and all but one, belonged to the old Federal and Whig parties as 
did their ancestors before them. 

Like a large majority of New England farmers of his day, 
lie was prosperous and got a good living. Those were old stage 
coach days ; people went slow and sure. 

His children were: Moses, born in Hollis, September 1, 
1791; died September 28, 1794. Thomas Wheat, born in 
Holhs, June 6, 1794; married Mehitable Blood, January 
^5, 1821. Moses, Jr., born in Hollis, September 1, 1795; 
married Rebecca Farley ; residence, Hollis. Reuben, born 
in Hollis, September 12, 1799 ; married Abigail Stearns, Novem- 
ber 19, 1840; residence, Hollis; died July 6, 1863. Abigail, 
born in Hollis October 3, 1801 ; married Enoch Farley, April 16, 
1822; residence, Hollis. Phineas, born in Hollis, May 1, 1803; 
married his Brother Leonard's widow, Rebecca Colburn, Oc- 
tober 18, 1840. Leonard, born in Hollis, January 20, 1806 ; mar- 
ried Rebecca Colburn ; residence, Hollis. Nathaniel, born in 
Hollis, January 27, 1808 ; married Hannah E. Parker, November 
28, 1832 ; residence, HolHs. Joseph Wheat, born in Hollis, June 
21, 1813 ; married Charlotte Butterfield. 



213 

SOLOMON HARDY. 

Solomon Hardy, son of Phineas, Sr., and Abigail Gage 
Hardy, was born in Hollis, August 1, 1767. Married Mary Bai- 
ley, November, 1795, and settled in the Northwest part of Hollis, 
on land formerly owned by Mrs. Hardy's father, Daniel Bailey 
who it was said, had land enough to give all his sons and daugh- 
ters a fifty acre farm. Mr. Hardy's life work was farming always 
providing well for his family, but remained in moderate circum- 
stances. His religious views were strictly Orthodox. A verit- 
able armenian, and so exacting as any Pharisee. Mr. Hardy 
was a constant attendant upon public worship ; carrying his fam- 
ily to meeting in the summer time in an ox cart ; in winter he 
would carry them on a sled. Nearly every Sabbath, he could 
be seen trudging along beside his team, swinging a little short 
whip and saying: "haw Buck, haw Broad." This family re- 
moved to Dublin, N. H., in the spring of 1847. 

His children were : Solomon, Jr., born in Hollis, September 
7, 1796. Studied for the Ministry; died September 18, 1843. 
Mary, born in Hollis, August 8, 1798 ; married Gardner Mooar, 
June 8, 1820; died March 16, 1863. Achsah, born in Hollis, 
February 29, 1800 ; married Daniel Greenwood ; residence, Dub- 
lin, N. H. Rebecca, born in Hollis, in 1802 ; married Daniel 
Greenwood, January 2, 1822 ; residence, Dublin, N. H. Capt. 
Benjamin Page, born in Hollis, in 1801: ; married Mary Colburn, 
November 8, 1832 ; residence, homestead and Dublin, N. H. 
Clarissa, born in Hollis, April 26, 1808 ; died in 1840, unmarried. 

Mr. Solomon Hardy, died at his home, in Dublin, May 11, 
1852. Mrs. Solomon Hardy, died at her home, in Dublin, March 
, 1852. 



214 

Dr. NOAH HARDY. 

Dr. Noah Hardy, son of Phineas and Sibbel Shattuck Hardy, 
was born in Hollis, March 23, 1785. Graduated at Dartmouth 
college in 1812, Studied medicine, and settled in Hollis, as a 
Physician, about 1814, and practised here until his death. He 
was a member of the town superintending school committee 
for ten years, between the years of 1828 and 1849. He also 
served the town as first Selectman, and town clerk in 1830 and 
1831. 

At the March election of 1830, the town gave Timothy Uphan 
the National Republican or John Q. Adams, candidate for Gover- 
nor nineteen majority. Mr. Hardy belonging to this same party 
was easily elected one of the Selectmen; the next year, 1831, the 
town went over to the Jackson party, and gave Samuel Dinsmore 
four majority for Governor, but still the town chose Mr. Hardy 
Selectman. 

Dr. Hardy married Betsey Farley, November 9, 1817, and 
settled at the old Leonard Whiting Hotel place, in Hollis village, 
where he remained during his life time, respected by all who 
knew him. He had no children. 

Mr. Hardv died at his home in Hollis, December 25, 1850. 



215 

Captain JAMES HARDY. 

Captain James Hardy, son of Phineas, Jr., and Sibbel Shat- 
tuck, was born in Hollis, September 7, 1792. He married Mary 
Smith, April 18, 1816, and settled for a time on the Pepperell 
road, south of Butterfield Hill, since known as the Samuel Little 
Place. 

Mr. Hardy was quite prominent in military affairs, having 
served as Captain of the Hollis Stark Grenadiers, a Light In- 
fantry Company, belonging to the old fifth Regiment of State 
Militia. 

Captain Hardy was a brother of Doctor Noah Hardy, and a 
prominent citizen of the town, engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

His children were : James, Jr., born in Hollis. Noah. 



SAMUEL L. HARDY. 

Samuel Lewis Hardy, son of Phineas, Jr., and Sibbel Shat- 
tuck Hardy, was born in Hollis, May 18, 1798. He remained 
with his parents during his minority. He married Roxana Dunck- 
lee, of Pottsdam. New York, August 19, 1821. 

Mr. Hardy settled at the old homestead at the head of Long 
Pond, and engaged in coopering and farming. Tradition says 
that he was a great story-teller ; some people thought that some- 
times he drew upon his own imagination for some of his stories. 

He had the reputation of being a very rough and profane 
man, and somewhat addicted to drink. 

Mr. Hardy died young, leaving the following children as 
found recorded : Hannah Roxana, born in Hollis, November 30, 
1831 ; died November 16, 1835. Louella Periuel, born March 16, 
1824 ; married Charles O. Wood, June 29, 1843 ; died February 22, 
1846. Nancy Elizabeth, born December 19, 1826. 

Mr. Hardy died at the old homestead, July 13, 1829, age 31. 
Mrs. Hardy died November 7, 1835, at the home of her aunt, 
Leafy Farley, at Pine Hill, in Hollis, age 34. 



217 

Deacon ENOS HARDY. 

Deacon Enos Hardy, son of Levi and Sarah Hardy, was 
born March 20^ 1772. In his youth he learned the Blacksmith's 
trade which he followed for many years. He married Mary 
Lund, November 10, 1797. She was the daughter of Ephraim 
and Alice Wheeler Lund, and settled at the North part of HoUis 
village, and became the village blacksmith. The clock which 
Deacon Hardy caused to be put upon his barn, was all the way 
people had of knowing when it was meeting time, until 1821, 
when the bell was placed in the cupola of the meeting-house. Mr. 
Hardy was chosen Deacon of the Hollis Church in 1816, which 
office he continued to hold until about 1832. 

His children were : Mary, born in Hollis, December 3, 1798 ; 
married Amos B. Minot, November 25, 1819. Ephraim L., born 
in Hollis, October 14, 1801 ; married Susannah Jewett, in 1828 ; 
residence, Brookline ; died November 28, 1875. Alvah, born in 
Hollis, September 6, 1803. Levi, born in Hollis, September 16, 
1807. Louisa, born in Hollis, February 10, 1811 ; married Wil- 
liam Flagg, October 4, 1837. Sarah Ann, born in Hollis, March 
21, 1816. 

About 1838, Deacon Hardy went to reside with his son, Eph- 
raim at Brookline, and died there May 18, 1857. 



218 

Deacon AARON HARDY. 

Deacoini Aaron Hardy, son of Aaron and Abigail Dutton 
Hardy, was born in Tevvksbury, Mass., October 24, 1771. He 
married Sally Shattuck, February 12, 1795. She was the daugh- 
ter of Zachariah Shattuck, Jr., born in Hollis, May 4, 1774. Mr. 
Hardy came to Hollis with his parents in the spring of 1774, 
while only about two years and a half old. They settled at the 
Hardy homestead near Flint's Pond. At about the age of twenty 
one, Mr. Hardy went to Lempster, N. H., purchased a home- 
stead whereon he settled immediately after his marriage. He be- 
came a respected citizen of the town, was chosen Deacon of the 
Congregational Church. In 1834 or 1835, Deacon Hardy returned 
to Hollis, and settled at the top of Long Hill, where Will H. 
Lund, now (1913) lives. 

His children were: Aaron, Jr., born in Lempster, December 
1, 1795 ; studied for the Ministry ; died of yellow fever, October 
21, 1826. James, born in Lempster, December 30, 1797 ; married 
Lucy Hurd, January 1, 1824 ; residence, Hollis ; died April 22, 
1884, Reuben, born in Lempster, December 10, 1799 ; married 
Harriet Hurd, January, 1826 ; died January 4, 1884. Sarah, 
born in Lempster, May 7, 1802 ; died unmarried, January 2, 
1833. Infant Daughter, born in Lempster, March 18, 1804; 
died April 28, 1804. Mary, born in Lempster, March 17, 1805; 
died unmarried, January 16, 1859, at HoUis. Tryphene born in 
Lempster, June 3, 1807 ; died August 19, 1809, at Lempster. 
Hiram, born in Lempster, February 12, 1810 ; married Mrs. Pa- 
melia (Kittredge), Saunderson, April 22, 1840; died February 
15, 1884. Truman, born in Lempster, April 12, 1812 ; married 
Ellen Beal in 1837 ; died January 7, 1889. John, born in Lemp- 
ster, June 19, 1814 ; married Hannah Farley, January 1, 1846 ; 
died January 7, 1847. Solon, bom in Lempster, April 3, 1817 ; 
married Martha Chenery, April 22, 1846; died March 18, 1903. 

Mr, Hardy died suddenly. 



219 

JAMES RIDEOUT, Senior. 

James Rideout, Sr., probably a descendant of the Marble- 
head Rideouts, was born in 1741. Married Molley. He pur- 
chased one thousand acres (1000) of land on the West side 
of Nashua river above the mine-falls of Ebenezer Perry, of 
Wilton, N. H., under date of 1762, and settled here about this 
time at a place on the interval known as the Bowditch place. 
He served in the war of the Revolution from Hollis, was at the 
battle of Bennington in August, 1777. Mr. Rideout became a 
large land holder. 

His children as found recorded in Hollis records were: 
James, Jr., born April 20, 1765 ; married Sally Spalding, December 

26, 1785; residence, Hollis. Polly, born November 12, 1767; 
married Ebenezer Jewett, March 15, 1792. Joseph, born Janu- 
ary 7, 1771 ; who died young. Esther, born March 6, 1772 ; 
married Daniel Blood, Jr., April 19, 1796. Joseph, born March 

27, 1774 ; married Rhoda Jaquith. Hannah, born November 1, 
1776; married Samuel Parker, January 2, 1801 ; residence, Green- 
field. David, born May 23, 1779 ; married Keziah Woods, No- 
vember 26, 1801. Betsey, born July 1, 1783. Lydia, born July 
1, 1787 ; married Eli Hunt, December 26, 1805 ; residence, 
Peterboro. 

Mr. James Rideout, died December 22, 1809, age 68. Mrs. 
Molley Rideout, died July 22, 1815, age 74. 

Mr. James Rideout came here from Nottingham, West, 
about 1762. 



280 

JAMES RIDEOUT, Junior. 

James Rideout, Jr., son of James, St., and Molly Rideout, 
was born in HoUis, April 20, 1765. He married Sally Spalding, 
a daughter of Edward Spalding, December 26, 1785, and settled 
in the east part of Hollis, on the old homestead of the Rideout 
family, engaged in farming and job work of various kinds. He 
was killed by the upsetting of his load of hoop poles, while on 
his way to Boston, January 11, 1821. 

His children were: James, 3rd, born March 28, 1787; 
married Edah Kinney, February 21, 1809 ; residence, Quincy. 
Sarah, born April 20, 1789 ; died unmarried October 28, 1835 ; 
residence, Hollis. Mary, born July 7, 1791 ; married 
Amos Wheeler, November 1, 1813 ; residence, Hollis, 

Anna, born , 1793; married November 17, 1813, 

Thomas Hamblett ; residence, Nashua. Luther, born , 

1795 ; married Nancy Richardson, in 1823 ; residence, 
Hollis. Ebenezer, born June, 1797 ; married Eliva Fisk, 

, 1820 ; residence, Brookline. Calvin, born ; 

married Hannah Ranger; residence, homestead. Thankful, born 
May 5, 1802 ; married Elias Colburn, April 13, 1830 ; residence, 

Hollis. Alpheus, born , 1804 ; married Lydia S. Powers, 

August 13, 1829; married for second wife, Susan Farley; mar- 
ried for third wife, Hannah Russell, November 19, 1855. 



221 

SAMUEL HAYDEN. 

Samuel Hayden, son of Josiah and Sarah Hayden, was born 
in Sudbury, Mass., about 1735. His occupation was that of a 
farmer. He is credited as serving in the old French war from 
Sudbury. He came to Monson, N. H., in 1760, and purchased 
of Jonathan Taylor the farm that for over one hundred and fifty 
years, has been known as the Hayden homestead, situated in the 
Northwest part of Hollis, between the Witch Brook valley and 
the foothills beyond, now (1913) owned and occupied by Hon. 
Daniel W. and David N. Hayden. 

Mr. Samuel Hayden was engaged here in farming, raising 
large crops of corn and rye. He belonged to the Monson Militia, 
and played the snare drum for his company. There is no record of 
his ever having a family. 

Mr. Hayden died suddenly, September 1792, in the 58th 
year of his age, leaving the homestead farm to his nephew, Josiah 
Hayden. 



JOSIAH HAYDEN. 

Josiah Hayden, son of Thomas and Mary Ball Hayden, was 
born in Sudbury, Mass., January 13, 1763. His father died while 
he was young, and he was committed to the care of his uncle, 
Samuel Hayden of Hollis, and came here to reside with him, 
when only about four or five years old. He married Mary Patch, 
a daughter of Thomas Patch, April 19, 1797, and succeeded to 
the homestead, engaging in agricultural pursuits. He was a pros- 
perous and successful farmer,with other produces, raised hops to 
some extent. 

His children were : Mary, born April 26, 1798 ; married Dan- 
iel Walker, December 25, 1817 ; residence, Marlboro. Captain 
Samuel, born March 13, 1800 ; married Harriet Needham, Decem- 
ber 31, 1830; residence, homestead. Lydia, born July 15, 1802; 
died unmarried October 8, 1849, age 47. Josiah, born October 10, 
1803 ; married Submit Swallow, October 8, 1840 ; married for 
second wife, Mahala Millard, November 24, 1858 ; residence, Hol- 
lis ; died . Sarah, born June 11, 1805 ; married Daniel 

Shedd. Thomas Walker, May 30, 1807 ; married Julia Peacock. 

Daniel, born June 28, 1809 ; married . Willard, born 

August 13, 1812; married Phebe S. Duncklee, April 24, 1845; 
residence, Amherst. Susan, born September 9, 1814 ; married 
Abel Colburn. 

Mr. Josiah Hayden, died at his home, in Hollis, February 23, 
1816, age 53. Mrs. Mary Hayden, his wife, died at the home- 
stead, August 17, 1850, age 77. 



22S 

Captain SAMUEL HAYDEN. 

Captain Samuel Hayden, a son of Josiah and Mary Patch 
Hayden, was born in Hollis, March 13, 1800. His father died 
when he was about sixteen years old. The management of the 
homestead and the care of a large family devolved upon him ; in 
this he was assisted somewhat by the advice of his neighbor, Cap- 
tain Daniel Bailey, who proved a friend in time of need. Mr. 
Hayden married Harriet Needham, December 31, 1830 ; she was 
a daughter of Stearns Needham of Milford. Mr. Hayden suc- 
ceeded to the homestead, was successful farmer. He could man- 
age and drive a pair of oxen better than any man that stood at 
Hollis. A man of considerable influence, was guardian of minor 
heirs, etc. ; he accumulated quite a property. Mr. Hayden was 
prominent in military affairs, serving as orderly Sargent of Hol- 
lis, old fifth Company of Infantry, belonging to the fifth Regi- 
ment, of State Militia, was ensign and Lieutenant of this com- 
pany under the command of Captain John Mooar, and succeeded 
him in 1836, as Captain of that company. 

His children were : Samuel Franklin, born February 8, 1833 ; 
married Melissa Rideout, September 11, 1856; residence, Hollis. 
Harriet Emily, born July 19, 1836 ; married Jackson E. Rideout, 
September 11, 1856 ; residence, Brookline. John Willard, born 

June 12, 1838 ; died in the service , 1863. Hon. Daniel 

Webster, born June 1, 1840 ; married Ann. E. Talbot. David 
Needham, born August 1, 1843; Elizabeth, born June 20, 1844; 

married John L. Woods, October ' , 1863 ; residence, 

Hollis. 

Mrs. Harriet, wife of Captain Hayden, died January 11, 
1869, age 64. 

Captain Samuel Hayden. died at his home, March 25, 1880, 
age 80. 



224: 

RICHARD BAYLEY. 

Richard Bayley, the old Monson shoe cobbler, was a de- 
scendant of Richard Bayley, who came over from England in the 
ship Bevis, in 1638, and settled in Salem, Mass. From here his 
numerous descendants went over New England. Mr. Bayley was 
located in Monson, prior to 1760 ; one of those early settlers of 
Monson village, a plebeian who helped to make up the population 
of the pioneer settlement, 

Mr. Bayley was a shoe-maker by trade, and as the shoe 
cobbler of Monson,^ used to take his bench and kit of tools and 
going from house to house doing such making and repairing as 
each family might want. 

At one place where there were four grown up daughters, the 
Mistress of the house planned hasty pudding for supper, and had 
put the kettle containing it at the open fire place, after satling it 
left the room, then number one girl came in and salted the pud- 
ding and went out ; this process was repeated until the four girls 
had salted it. Mr. Bayley seeing the pudding was spoiled, put the 
remainder of the salt in, and went out. 

Tradition does not state who ate the pudding. 



225 

JOSEPH ESTABROOK. 

The Estabrooks were descended from a ministerial family ; 
Joseph and Mary Mason, his wife, came over from Ipswich High 
Suffolk Co., England in 1634 ; and settled in Concord, Mass., and 
subsequently removed to Lexington. He was a tanner by trade ; 
a descendant, Joseph Estabrook, located at the southeast part of 
Monson, N. H., very early in its settlement, coming here prior 
to 1750, erecting his log hut, clearing the forest, and commenced 
farming. His residence was on that rude bridle path leading 
from the Wincol Wright Mill to the Parker Pond valley. 

His place is still known as the Estabrook land. He dealt in 
real estate to some extent. Mr. Estabrook's name disappears 
from the records here shortly after the Revolution. He married 
Lydia . 

His children were : Mary, born in Monson, April 20, 1751. 
Elizabeth, born in Monson, November 2, 1753. Lydia, born in 
Monson, January 24, 1761. Joseph, Jr., born in Monson, March 
28, 1764. 

Some of this family went to Hancock, N. H. 



226 

JOHN BROOKS. 

John Brooks, son Nathan and Sarah Wyman Brooks, was 
born in Wobum, Mass., in 1735. He came from Woburn to 
HolHs, prior to 1756. He married Mary Kemp, January 5, 1757, 
and settled at the Joseph Ober place in the southwest part of the 
town. 

Mr. Brooks served in the war of the Revolution from Hollis, 
enlisting into the Continental army for eight months in 1777, 
was in the northern campaign. His occupation was that of a 
farmer while residing in Hollis. 

His children as given in Worcester history page 368 were: 
Mary, born in Hollis, December 3, 1757; married Isaac Boynton, 
August 24, 1780. John, Jr., born in Hollis, February 24, 1760 ; 
married Elizabeth Woods, March 18, 1784. Nathan, born in 
Hollis, August 26, 1767. Abigail, born in Hollis, December 6, 
1770. Hannah, born in Hollis, August 20, 1772 ; married John 
Powers, November 28, 1793. Ruth, born in Hollis, January 
15, 1775. 

Mr. John Brooks, died in Hollis, , in 1792. Mrs. 

Brooks, married for a second husband, Nehemiah Wood, and 
died in 1811. 



227 

Captain WILLIAM BROOKS. 

Captain William Brooks, son of Nathan and Sarah Wyman 
Brooks, was born in Woburn, Mass., March 3, 1737. He came 
to Hollis from Woburn, prior to 1758. He married Abigail 
Kemp, March 29, 1759, and settled in the southwest part of the 
town, near the Eri Daniels place. Mr. Brooks served in the war 
of the Revolution from Hollis as Ensign in Captain Daniel Emer- 
son's company. Colonel Moses Nichols' Regiment for the Rhode 
Island expedition of August, 1778, and again in the Continental 
army three months in 1781. 

Mr. Brooks removed to Lyndeborough, N. H., after the 
Revolution, where he remained an honorable and respected cit- 
izen; he died in Lyndeborough, October 11, 1804. 

His children were all born in Hollis : William, Jr., born 
May 1, 1760 ; married Deboeah Parker, April 24, 1782. Abigail, 
born July 19, 1762; married Solomon Hobart, May 16, 1782. 
Betsey, born July 23, 1764 ; married S'hubael Parker, November 
19, 1781. Sarah, born July 6, 1766 ; married John Bonner, Oc- 
tober 26, 1786. Isaac, born October 28, 1768 ; married . 

Margaret, born February 15, 1771 ; married David Woods, June 
15, 1798; residence, Hancock. Samuel, born March 3, 1774; 

married . Martha, born August 23, 1776. Captain 

Leonard, born January 29, 1779 ; married Sarah J. Hosley, April 
27, 1806; residence, Milford. John, born November 11, 1781. 
Susannah, born February 12, 1783. 

Mr. Captain Brooks, married Hepzibah Powers ; for second 
wife, September 20, 1787. 



228 

SAMUEL PARKER, Junior. 

Samuel Parker, Jr., son of Samuel and Deborah Prescott 
Parker, was born in Groton, Mass., September 28, 1715. He 
married Mary Lakin, of Groton, Mass., March 23, 1739, and 
resided near the old homestead in Groton, until the spring of 
1741, when at this time he removed to West Dunstable, N. H., 
and settled near Pine Hill, 

Mr. Parker was engaged in farming and doing such work as 
a pioneer settler had to do. Mr. Parker came in possession of 
land at a pond lying West of Pine Hill, whereon he erected a mill 
on the stream flowing East from the pond, which he operated a 
few years ; this pond has been known from that day to this as : 
Parker Pond. It was said that a part of this mill was moved to 
the Wincol Wright place. 

His children were: Samuel, born April 7, 1740; married 
Rebecca Hunt, December 27, 1768. Eleazer, born March 30, 
1744 ; married Dinah Farnsworth, February 3, 1763. Lemuel, 
born March 4, 1747. Lucy, born March 29, 1750 ; married Sol- 
omon Pierce, March 19, 1771. Mary, born March 27, 1753 ; mar- 
ried Joshua Boynton, May 26, 1778. Esther, born May 21, 
1755. 



329 

SIMEON BLOOD. 

Simeon Blood, was born about 1740. He came to Hollis at 
some time during the war of the Revolution, from Dustnable ; ap- 
parently not immediately connected with the other Bloods residing 
in Hollis. He married Rhoda Youngman, June 15, 1780 ; she 
was a daughter of Nicholas Youngman, born in Dunstable, 
N. H., March 4, 1756. 

Mr. Blood after his marriage, settled at old Monson place, 
residing here and at dififerent places at North HolHs, a few 
years. He enlisted into the Colonial service, in Captain John 
Goss's company, was at the battle of Bennington, in 1777. In 
1778 enlisting into Captain John House Co., of the first N. H. 
Continental Regiment, for two years, and in the northern Frontier 
six months in 1780. 

Mr. Blood was one of the forty petitioners who resided in 
the north part of Hollis, that petitioned the New Hampshire Gen- 
eral Court to reincorporate the old Township of Monson, under 
date of May 33, 1782. 

They proposed having Peacock village, situated in the south 
part of Amherst, for the middle of their town, but Hollis and 
Amherst opposed the request, and no action was taken by the 
Legislature. 

Simeon Blood, served in the old French War in Captain Ne- 
hemiah Lovewell's company for the Crown Point expedition of 
1758, from April 27, to October 16. 



230 

JOHN WHITING. 

John Whiting, was born in Billerica, Mass., a descendant of 
the Rev. Samuel IWliiting, emigrant ancestor of the Holhs Whit- 
ings, who was born in Boston, Lincolnshire Co., England, about 
1596 ; graduated from Cambridge University, in 1620, and was 
a non-conformist rector at Lynn Regis ; who married Elizabeth 
St. John. She encouraged her husband to follow John Cotton, and 
other non-conformists to America. 

And soon after coming to New England, was settled over the 
first church in Lynn, Mass., in 1637. Mr. John Whiting held the 
office of Cornet in Billerica, under Crown of Great Britain. He 
married and later in life removed to Littleton, Mass., where after 
a time he was proprietor of a Hotel, which was used several 
years. 

His children were: John, Jr., born . James, born 

married Mary Douglas, August 2, 1757. Benjamin, 



born ; married Grace Hall. Captain Leonard, born 

about 1740; married Anna Hall, August 23, 1761. 



231 

Captain LEONARD WHITING. 

Captain Leonard Whiting, son of John Whiting, was born in 
Billerica, Mass., in 1740. He married Anna Hall, April 23, 1761, 
and settled in Littleton, Mass., where he was proprietor of the 
tavern in Littleton for a time, was also an extensive real estate 
owner. He received his commission as Captain, during his ser- 
vice in the French and Indian War. He was at Crown Point, and 
was present at the surrender of Quebec as Captain of the West- 
ford company. 

He settled in Hollis prior to 1770 ; he held the office of High 
Sheriff of Hillsborough County, from 1771 to the Revolution by 
appointment of the British Crown. A loyalist, his treason to the 
Colonial cause consisted in a soldier's loyalty to the government 
whose commissioned officer he was, but this did not deter the 
patriots from lodging him in Amherst jail on the charge of being 
inimical to the rights and liberties of the United Colonies. He 
was detected while carrying treasonable despatches from Canada 
to Boston to the British officers, by the women of Pepperell under 
the leadership of Mrs. Prudence Wright, in April, 1775. After 
the war, Mr. Whiting removed to Cavendish, Vt., where he 
spent the remainder of his years a respected and influential 
citizen. 

His children were : Anne, born in HoUis, August 12, 1763 ; 
married Dr. Oliver Prescott, February 22, 1791 ; residence, 
Groton. Leonard, Jr., born in Hollis, August 25, 1765 ; married 
Betsey Conant, January 28, 1793 ; residence, Hollis ; died January 
1807; married for second wife, Rebecca Nevins Gilson, March 
18, 1800. Mary, born in Hollis, August 25, 1767. Grace, born 
in Hollis, September 12, 1769. Abigail, born in Hollis, March 
25, 1772. Stephen, born in Hollis, February 20, 1774. 

Mr. Whiting, while living in Hollis, resided at the Dr. Noah 
Hardy place, and kept hotel some of the time when here. 



233 

LEONARD COMBS. 

Leonard Combs, son of Isaac and Elizabeth N. Quaid Combs, 
was born in Amherst, in 1800 ; his father died when he was 
young, and he went to reside with Benjamin Rogers, of North 
Hollis. While living with Mr. Rogers, learned the trunk mak- 
ers' trade, which he worked at during his remaining years. 

He married Lucinda Duncklee, November 16, 1830, and set- 
tled with Mr. Rogers, at North Hollis. Mr. Combs continued the 
manufacturing of trunks for the Lowell market, was an honest 
hard-working man in limited circumstances. 

He removed to Nashua, about 1840, where he worked at his 
trade until his death, which occurred in 1855, at Nashua, is buried 
in North Yard at Hollis. He left no children. 

His widow, married for a second husband, Daniel Bixby, of 
Francistown, N. H., November 8, 1855, and settled in Francis- 
town; she survived Mr, Bixby several years, and died on the 
County Farm in 1898, aged 90 years. 



233 

DANIEL BAILEY, 3rd. 

Daniel Bailey, 3rd, son of Captain Daniel and Elizabeth 
French Bailey, was born in Hollis, December 31, 1793. He mar- 
ried Lucy Baldwin, in November, 1821, and succeeded to the 
homestead farm ; he was an honest and industrious citizen of the 
town. Mr. Bailey as did his father before him, carried on hard 
wood coopering to some extent, hireing help to make the barrels, 
he used to team them to Boston, carrying- provision enough to 
last the round trip. 

Aside from his coopering business, he was engaged in farm- 
ing and milling, doing a prosperous business, was considered one 
of the well-to-do farmers, of Hollis. 

Mr. Bailey never enjoyed very good health, and after a sea- 
son of illness, he succumbed to that dread destroyer consumption, 
causing his death in his thirty-fifth year. 

His children were: Daniel, ith, born August 13, 1822; 
married Addie Burt, in 1884 ; residence, homestead ; died in 
1889. William P., born July 19, 1823; died August 31, 1825. 

Elizabeth, born ' , 1826 ; married Isaac Van Dyke, March 

, 1852 ; died November , 1906. Infant Daugh- 
ter, born , 1828 ; lived only a few days. 

Mr. Bailey, died at his home in Hollis, , 1828. Mrs. 

Lucy Bailey, died at her home, in Hollis. 



234 

ZEBULON WHEELER. 

Zebulon Wheeler, son of James, Jr., and Mary Butterfield 
Wheeler, was born in Monson, January 20, 1768. He married 
Mrs. Mary Pool Kendrick, widow of Daniel Kendrick, Jr., and 
settled at Patch Corner, in Hollis, at the old Kendrick homestead, 
on Amherst road, October 24, 1701. Mr. Wheeler helped to make 
up the number of denizens living at his quaint old section of 
Hollis, that was sometimes called Skiltishire. 

Mr. Wheeler was engaged at farming. It was said of him, 
that work, and he, had a falling out, in his younger days, and 
that he ever after held his own remarkably well. 

Mr. Wheeler, buried his wife, Mary, about , 1810, 

and shortly after went to Morristown, N. Y., and it was reported 
that he married again. 

His children were: Bridget, born May 20, 1792; married 
James Davis, November 22, 1810; Mason. Sally, born May 2, 
1794; married John Ball, , 1816. Lucinda, born Janu- 
ary 1, 1800; married Calvin Willoughby, May 1, 1823. Benja- 
min, born August 12, 1802 ; died young. Luther, born September 
26, 1803 ; died February 14, 1816. Calvin, born June 27, 1805 ; 
married Sarah J. Hoit, in 1832. Loisa, born September 3, 1807 ; 
married Charles Farnsworth. 



335 

Deacon BENJAMIN MESSER, Junior. 

Deacon Benjamin Messer, Jr., son of Benjamin and Mary 
Messer, was born in Hollis, March 27, 178-i. He married Abigail 
Holt, December 18, 1810. She was a daughter of Fifield Holt. 
He settled at the Warner Lund place, in Hollis village. His 
occupation was that of a house carpenter. He worked at his 
trade most of the time while living in Hollis. Mr. Mes- 
ser resided in Hollis, until about 1826 or 1827, when he removed 
to Hardscrabble, and settled first at the Thomas W. Hayden place. 
Subsequently built a house north of the mill on the Crickett Cor- 
ner road, and located there, since known as the Alden Youngman 
place. 

Mr. Messer helped to build the meeting-house at South Mer- 
rimack, upon the organization of the Church, he was chosen one 
of the Deacons, which office he filled as long as he remained here. 
Mr. Messer was an ardent Henry Clay Whig, and sustained Whig 
principles generally. 

About 1859 or 60, he removed to Minnesota, where he spent 
the remainder of his days. 

His children were: Benjamin Edmund, born in Hollis, Fe- 
bruary 22, 1812 ; went to Washington, D. C. Mary, born January 
28, 1815; died October 22, 1820. Betsey, born February 13, 
1818; died October 28, 1820. Fifield Holt, born July 5, 1822; 

married Elliot, in 1845 ; died in service. Charles N., 

born November 26, 1824; died November 22, 1825. William Al- 
fred, born August 14, 1829 ; went to Minnesota with his father. 



236 

JOHN POWERS. 

John Powers, son of Jonathan and Susanna Willoughby Pow- 
ers, was born in Dunstable, N. H., March 9, 1?66. He married 
Hannah Brooks, November 28, 1793, and settled at his father's 
homestead in Dunstable, near HoUis line, he was engaged in 
company with his father in real estate deal. 

He remained on the homestead farm until about 1805, when 
he removed to the Pine Hill section of Hollis, occupying a farm, 
where he resided during the remainder of his days, an honest 
and respected citizen. 

His children were : John, Jr., born in Dunstable, August 25, 
1796. Nathan, born in Dunstable, December 8, 1798 ; married 
Rhoda C. Butterfield, December 16, 1820. Noah, born in Dun- 
stable, November 13, 1802 ; married , September 20, 

1832, Isaac, born in Dunstable, October 1-t, 1801 ; married EHe- 
nor Whiting, January 1, 1828, Ira, born in HolUs, September 22, 

1806; married , William P., born in Hollis, April 24, 

1812 ; died in Boston, February 26, 1846. 

Mr. John Powers, died at his home, in Hollis, November 6, 
1815, age 49, was buried at the Pine Hill Yard, 



237 

Captain SOLOMON ROGERS. 

Captain Solomon Rogers, a veteran of the Revolutionary 
war, was born in 1729. Served in the war of Independence from 
Stow, Mass., was in the service in 1775 and 1776. He was a 
Captain of Infantry. He came early in 1777 to Pepperell, Mass., 
and engaged in blacksmithing that being his trade. He had the 
misfortune to have his dwelling house entirely destroyed by fire 
one Sunday morning during the month of August, of that year. 
Soon after this, Mr. Rogers removed to HoUis, N. H., locating 
here on North Main Street, and became the village blacksmith. 

Mr. Rogers served as town treasurer from 1781 to 1786. 
He remained in town during the rest of his life. There is no 
record of his ever having a family. 

Mr. Rogers, died December 81, 1787, aged 58 years. Is bur- 
ied in the church yard at Hollis. 



238 

Captain JOHN CLAPP. 

Captain John Clapp, a veteran soldier of the Revolutionary 
war, was born in North Hampton, N. H., in 1757. Enlisting 
from North Hampton to serve during the war. He was with 
the American army at Valley Forge, in 1778, during the terrible 
privation and suffering of that winter. They frequently had no 
food to eat for days at a time, more than three thousand men 
had no shoes, and bloody imprints marked their daily round of 
duty. 

Mr. Clapp said that during that terrible winter, General 
Washington ordered men detailed out to mix white clay with 
their flour, to make the flour hold out, and that he was one of 
those soldiers who helped to do it, and said he could shoulder a 
barrel of flour as quick as any man in the army. 

Mr. Clapp was a man that weighed over two hundred 
pounds ; he was appointed Captain of Infantry, which position 
he held several years. He married Polly , and subse- 
quently settled in the town of Merrimack, N. H., from this place, 
he removed to North Hollis, in 1836, locating at the Lot Mooar 
place. 

He had a son, Daniel, who resided at Nashua for a time. 

Mr. Clapp died at his home, in Hollis, December 12, 1837, 
age 80. His wife, Polly, died May 4, 1842. They were buried 
in North Yard, 



339 

EPHRAIM LUND, Junior. 

Ephraim Lund, Jr., son of Ephraim and Rachel Pierce 
Lund, was bom in Dunstable, August 35, 1745. He learned the 
blacksmith trade while young. He went to Plymouth, N. H., 
with his father, in 1765, and engaged in milling. From this 
place they removed to Warren, N. H., in 1770, where they built 
a mill, and continued in the business for several years. 

Mr. Lund married Alice Wheeler, May 12, 1773. She was a 
daughter of Peter Wheeler, of Hollis. He removed to Hollis, in 
1776, settUng at the north part of the village, and engaging in 
blacksmithing ; this business he continued until about 1800, when 
he was succeeded by his son-in-law. Deacon Enos Hardy. 

Mr. Lund served in the war of the Revolution from Hollis, 
at Cambridge three months in 1775, and in Captain Daniel Emer- 
son's company, in 1777. 

His children were : Hannah, born in Warren, September 7, 
1772. Sally, born in Warren, March 8, 1774 ; married Samuel 
Barron, January 24, 1793. Alice, born in Warren, April 19, 
1776. Mary, born in Hollis, May 31, 1778; married Deacon 
Enos Hardy, November 10, 1797. Ephraim, born in Hollis, 
August 14, 1780; died April 6, 1789. Stephen, born in Hollis, 
October 29, 1783; married Rachel Shedd, January 22, 1806. 
Ebenezer, born in HolHs, July 10, 1786; married ; resi- 
dence, Brookline ; died in 1832. 

Mr. Ephraim Lund, died August 38, 1820. Mrs. Alice Lund, 
died October 6, 1798. 



2-1:0 

ZACHARIAH SHATTUCK, Junior. 

Zachariah Shattuck, Jr., son of Zachariah and Elizabeth Fisk 
Shattuck, was born in Monson, November 24, 1747. Remained 
with his parents during his minority. He married EHzabeth Far- 
ley, November 28, 1771, and settled at the homestead, situated in 
the extreme southeast part of Monson, where many of his nu- 
merous descendants occupied those bleak pine plains, extending 
from the Pine Hill section of old Dunstable on the east, to the foot 
hills on the west, a large territory subsequently settled by the 
Shattuck family known as the Boston place. 

Mr. Shattuck served in the war of the Revolution, was at 
Cambridge three months. 

His children : Elizabeth, born in 1772 ; married James Bell. 
Sally, born May 4, 1774; married Aaron Hardy, February 12, 
1795. Mary, born March 9, 1776 ; married Abijah Gould, Oc- 
tober 10, 1804. Isaac, born April 9, 1778 ; married Hannah 
Mooar, September 17, 1807. Zachariah, 3rd, born July 23, 1781. 
Abel, born September 21, 1782; married Esther Oilman. Joseph, 
born January 20, 1785 ; died unmarried, January 31, 1876. Amos, 
born January 11, 1793 ; married Margaret Ball. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Shattuck, died March 22, 1838, age 83. 



241 

JAMES PARKER. 

James Parker, son of Lieutenant Levi and Abigail Pool, 
was born in 'Westford, Mass., in August, 1787. He remained 
with his father during his minority and learned the blacksmith 
trade. He removed to Hollis from Westford about 1808, locat- 
ing at Patch corner, and commenced blacksmithing with his 
father, which business he continued successfully about fifty 
years. 

Mr. Parker was one of the renowned fifers in this section of 
the state ; those clear piercing fife notes were heard on Muster 
days, and all other times when the militia was called out ; he was 
known as fifer Jim. 

Mr. Parker married Betsey Wright, December 28, 1813, and 
resided west of the school-house at Patch Corner. Mr. Parker 
kept a Genealogical record of nearly all those families living in 
the North part of Hollis, which, if preserved, would likely be in 
the hands of his descendants ; this would be of immense value to 
the local historian. Mr. Parker buried his wife, Betsey, Septem- 
ber 5, 1835. He married Susan Woods for a second wife, July 
13, 1837. 

His children were : James, Jr., born in Hollis, April 1, 

1815 ; married . George, born in HolHs, March 13, 

1817; married . Emerline, born in Hollis, January 18, 

1833. WilHam, born in Hollis, Februarv 8, 1834. 



242 

MAJOR JAMES WHEELER. 

Major James Wheeler, son of Lieutenant Thaddeus and Eli- 
zabeth Farmer Wheeler, was born in Hollis, August 6, 1785. He 
married Dorcas Mooar, a daughter of Jacob Mooar, April 23, 
1817, and settled at the Nevins place situated in the northeast 
part of Hollis, near Pennichuck pond, purchasing this farm 
containing over two hundred acres, of the Joseph Nevins, Heins, 
for the sum of (2800) twenty-eight hundred dollars, under date 
of January 23, 1816. In addition to his farming, he was engaged 
in hard wood coopering to some extent, it was principally by this 
means that he was enabled to pay for his place. 

Mr. Wheeler was prominent in military affairs, having 
served as Captain of the Hollis Infantry company of State Mili- 
tia, and served as Major of the old fifth Regiment of State Mili- 
tia. Mr. Wheeler was honorable in all his dealings, and enjoyed 
the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, whom he served as Se- 
lectman in 1840 and 1841. Represented the town in the Legis- 
lature of 1856 and 1857. 

His children were: James W., born June 7, 1819; married 
Kezeah Wheeler, June 4, 1848 ; residence, Hollis. Mary Ann, 
born April 3, 1821 ; married Andrew J. Spalding, February 6, 
1844; residence, Hollis. Emeline, born December 5, 1822; mar- 
ried James Blood, November 18, 1847 ; residence, HolHs and 

Milford. Jackson E., born ; succeeded to homestead; 

died unmarried. Louisa M., born March 12, 1828 ; married Ed- 
ward Hardy, ; residence, Hollis. Charles H., born 

February 5, 1832 ; married Laura Hartwell, September 28, 1859 ; 
residence, Boston. Hannah M., born June 30, 1830 ; married 
Nathaniel Pierce, March 11, 1858; residence, Milford. George 
F., born September 12, 1833 ; married Lottie Boswell, November 
28, 1861 ; residence, Nashua. 

Major James Wheeler died at the homestead, February 26, 
1870. Mrs. Dorcas, his wife, died at the homestead, August 
25, 1885. 



243 

MOSES TRUELL. 

Moses Truell, son of Amos and Lucy Clark Trtiell, was born 
in Amherst, N. H., April 27, 1783. He married Eda Holt, in 
1810, and settled on the old homestead situated in the east part 
of Amherst, engaged in farming. His wife died June 26, 1825. 
He married for a second wife, Ruth L. Fowle, of Amherst, No- 
vember 23, 1826. 

Mr. Truell removed to Merrimack, N. H., in the spring of 
1829, where he resided until 1835 ; he then went to Dunstable, 
N. H., remaining here until the spring of 1838, when he removed 
to Brattle's End, Dunstable, going back to Nashua, in 1845, 
and moving to Hollis, in 1846, where he remained the rest of his 
days. He was an honest and respected citizen of the town, an un- 
compromising Jackson Democrat, a subscriber an reader of the 
Nashua Gazette. 

His children were: Moses, Jr., born in September, 1811. 

Sarah, born in September, 1813. Charles, born , 1815. 

Eda, born , 1817. Rachel, born April 12, 1829 ; died 

April 24, 1865. Martha J., born May 27, 1831 ; died September 
28, 1874. Charles H. F., born October 13, 1834 ; died March 17, 
1836. Nathaniel L., born June 5, 1838 ; married Sarah E. Marsh- 
all, December 6, 1865. Eliza Ann, born June , 1843 ; 

died January 19, 1845. Eliza Ann, born December 12, 1845; 
died unmarried February 24, 1879. 

Moses Truell, died at the homestead in Hollis, August 13, 
1867. Mrs. Truell, died August 16, 1880. 



244 

Lieutenant Colonel JOHN MOOAR. 

Lieut. Colonel John Mooar, son of Jacob and Dorcas Hood 
Mooar, was born in Hollis, August 11, 1796. His advantages 
for schooling were limited ; there was not more than six or eight 
weeks of schooling in a year. He married Rebecca Abbott, of 
Milford, December 17, 1816, and settled at the Ben Nevins place 
on Mooars hill, at North Hollis, engaging in farming, and later 
in carrying on the Kendall Mill property company with Enoch 
Farley and Joseph W. Hardy. 

Mr. Mooar was well versed in the art of pigeon catching, 
used to ship large lots to Boston market. He was also engaged 
in the manufacturing of red oak fish bottels, which he carried to 
Boston market. Mr. Mooar was prominent in Militia affairs, was 
commissioned Captain of the old fifth company of Infantry in 
Hollis, from April 20, 1830, to August, 1836, was appointed Ma- 
jor, then Lieutenant Colonel and as such commanded the old fifth 
Regiment of State Militia at the famous Hardscrabble Muster, 
September 5, 1838. He served the town as second Selectmen 
in 1862. 

His children were: John, Jr., born February 20, 1820 ; mar- 
ried Lucinda Dodge, December 17. 1846 ; married for second 
wife, Hattie A. Zayles, February 6, 1868 ; residence, Manchester. 
Humphrey, born July 27, 1821 ; married Susan H. Taylor, Decem- 
ber 8, 1853 ; residence, Lawrence. Lot, born May 21, 1827 ; 
married Louisa C. Davis, December 9, 1858 ; residence, Hollis. 
Rebecca Jane, born May 22, 1829 ; married Jacob E. Sargent, 
November 22, 1848 ; residence, Michigan. Dr. Jacob W., born 
March 7, 1831 ; married Linda M. Hunter. June 20, 1878. 

Mr. Mooar buried his wife, Rebecca, and married her sister, 
Deborah. 

Colonel John Mooar, died at his homestead, March 31, 1869. 
His wife, Rebecca, died November 11, 1860. He married her 
sister, Deborah, for second wife. 



245 

BENJAMIN DODGE. 

Benjamin Dodge, a descendant of the New Hampshire 
Dodges, whose progency came by way of the New Boston Dodges, 
came to Hollis from Londonderry, in the spring of 1839, and 
settled at the Cobbett place on Witch Brook, at North Hollis ; 
this place he purchased in company with one Luther Upham, 
of Vermont. 

Mr. Dodge was engaged here in sawing shingles and laths, 
which he sold in the Nashua and Lowell markets. He took out 
the Cobbett carding and fulling machines, which had been utilized 
to accommodate the people of Hollis in making their homespun 
clothing, for about forty years. 

Mr. Dodge was a man somewhat lenient in principle. It was 
said that he was living with his fourth wife while here, whom he 
buried in November, 1844. This family was broken up in spring 
of 1845. It was understood that he went to Derry, N. H. 

His children were : Mary Ann. James. Woodbury. Lu- 
cinda, married John Mooar, Jr. ; residence, Manchester. Augusta 
M. Susan Margaret. Martha Jane. Laura Dodge Mooar, born 
June, 1844 ; married Taylor Blunt ; resided in Virginia. 



246 

STEPHEN AMES. 

Ensign Stephen Ames, son of John and Priscilla Kimball 
Ames, was born in Boxford, Mass., September 1, 1713. He mar- 
ried Jane Robbins, of Groton, Mass., April 14, 1731, settled there, 
engaged in farming and milling until 1739, when he removed to 
West Dunstable. Mr. Ames located on Beaver Brook at Fog-end, 
now in the southwest part of Hollis, where he built his log hut, 
and erected a saw-mill, which he operated several years. 

Mr. Ames was a prominent man in the new settlement. He 
was chosen delegate to the first County Congress, which met at 
Amherst, November 8, 1774, and also chosen Representative to 
the General Court of New Hampshire, in 1775, 1776, and 1777. 
Mr. Ames' father was killed by the Indians in Groton, July 24, 
1726. 

Ensign Ames' children were : Jane, born in Groton, Decem- 
ber 6, 1733. Hannah, born in Groton, April 28, 1737. Stephen, 
born in Groton, March 4, 173!). Elizabeth, born in Groton, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1742. Rachel, born in Groton, December 12, 1744. 
Jonathan, born in Groton, April 11, 1747; married Frances Pow- 
ers, November 11, 1772. David, born in Groton, May 30, 1749; 
married Anna Wright, March 22, 1781. Francis, born in Groton, 
May 1, 1751. Benjamin, born in Groton, December 4, 1753, 
Mr. Stephen Ames went to Grafton County, N. H. 

Mr. Ames served as one of the Selectmen in 1747, 48, 62, 67, 
73, 75, 76, 77, and 1779. He also served in the old French War, 
in 1757, in Captain Gage company from August 21, to Novem- 
ber 2. 



247 



REUBEN BALDWIN, Esquire. 

Reuben Baldwin, Esq., son of Jeremiah and Rebeckah Bald- 
win, was born in Billerica, Mass., July 28, 1798, and immediately 
moved to Greenfield, N. H., with his parents. There is a tradi- 
tion that his father died while he was young, and that he went to 
live with his uncle, in Hancock, N. H., where he remained during 
his minority. He then started out to make his way in the world, 
with his entire effects done up in a bandanna-handkerchief coming 
to Hollis, and subsequently found employment at Benjamin Far- 
ley's at North Hollis, where he made his home a few years. 

Mr. Baldwin married Lucy Farley, the youngest daughter of 
Benjamin Farley, April 16, 1822, and settled on the Lot Mooar 
place at North Hollis ; from here he removed to Paddlecock 
or South Brookline, N. H., in 1826, and owned and operated the 
Rockwood Mill until the spring of 1840. While residing in 
Brookline, Mr. Baldwin served the town as one of their Select- 
men several years, and represented the town of Brookline, in the 
Legislature of 1834. 

Mr. Baldwin removed to Hollis village, in the spring of 
1840, residing at the Levi Abbott place until about 1843, when 
he bought the Charles Richardson place, of the William Wood 
heirs; this he occupied until September, 1845, when he sold to 
Daniel Shedd, and removed back to Brookline, and forming in 
1846 a co-partnership with Fernando Bailey in a West India 
Goods Store, at the place since known as the Sam Sweet Store. 
He received the appointment and served as Post Master of Brook- 
line, under the administration of James K. Polk. Returning to 
Hollis, in January, 1853, and engaging in a general Grocery store, 
known as the Union Store, receiving the appointment of Post 
Master of Hollis, under Franklin Pierce's administration. 

Mr. Baldwin built what is known as the Jefferson Farley 
house, and returned his attention at farming. He continued to 
reside here until 1865, or 1866, when he sold out and returned 
to Brookline village, settling on Milford street, where he resided 
the remainder of his davs. 



248 



While residing in Hollis, Mr. Baldwin was elected Modera- 
tor at the annual town meeting of 185-i. Was elected first Select- 
man and town clerk in 1843, 44, and 45, 1861, and 1862, and 
chosen representative from Hollis to the Legislature of 1863 and 
1864; he was a Justice of the Peace about forty years, and 
settled many Estates. 

A man of sound and discriminating judgment, prominent and 
influential in the community in which he lived. 

His children were : Lucy Ann, bom December 15, 1826 ; 
died October 15, 1831. Luke, born August 10, 1831 ; married 
Harriet Burges, in 1855 ; died November, 1900. Lucy A., born 
June 9, 1840; married Imli M. Williams; died June 13, 1894. 
Reuben Baldwin, died in Brookline, April 21, 1872. 

Mrs. Luvy Baldwin, his wife, died March 29, 1883. 

Politically Mr, Baldwin was an adherent of John Q. Adams 
prior to 1832, at this time he came out for Andrew Jackson, and 
ever after remained an ardent and consistent Democrat. 



249 

ISAAC W. BUTTERFIELD. 

Isaac Warner Butterfiefild, son of Isaac Butterfield, was 
born in Wilton, N. H., in 1793 ; a descendant of the Dunstable 
Butterfields. He married Abigail Pierce, of Hollis, November 
18, 1818. She was a daughter of Richard and Susanna Jewett 
Pierce. 

Mr. Butterfield settled for a time in Brookline, N. H. In 
1826, he removed to North Hollis, at the Lot Mooar Place, re- 
maining here until about 1836, when he went to South Lyndsbor- 
ough, N. H., residing here a few years, then establishing his 
home at East Milford. Mr. Butterfield was a farmer, worked 
out by the day, and jobbing around, laying stone wall, digging 
ditches, cellars, and wells. 

He was an honest hard working man, whose judgment was 
not as good as some men's were ; his mental faculties being some- 
what impaired, he always remained in limited circumstances. 

His children were : Charlotte, born ; married Joseph 

W. Hardy, ; residence, Hollis. Susan, born ; 

married William W. Robbins, ■ — ; residence, Milford. 



250 

AMOS FLETCHER. 

Amos Fletcher, son of Samuel and Olive Wright Fletcher, 
was born in New Ipswich, N. H., in 1784. He married Abigail 
Town of Peterborough, N. H., in 1812, and settled at the Jim 
Duncklee place, in South Merrimac, N, H., residing here until 
1815, then removed to the old Fletcher homestead on Witch 
Brook at North Hollis, to care for his parents in their old age ; 
he was engaged in farming, was in moderate circumstances. 

Mr. Fletcher was a very eccentric man ; one familiar explea- 
tive that he used in common conversation was "by the hebens and 
airth." He would raise one or two pair of steers every year, and 
always had a pair to sell. In winter, he would go out on the 
plains, cut a pitch pine tree, hitch his steers to it, draw it up to 
the house, cut it for use at an open fire place, burn it brush and 
all, in a cold frosty morning; the smoke would go straight into 
the air fifty feet, the whole bigness of the chimney and could 
be seen by the whole neighborhood. 

His children were : Abigail, born in 1813 ; died unmarried 
July 24, 1874; age 61. Amos, Jr., born July 3, 1815; married 
Abby Saunders, in 1844; died November 11, 1904, age 89. Leon- 
ard, born July 30, 1817 ; married Nancy Town, of Milford ; 
removed to Canada. Sally, born October 29, 1819 ; married John 
Seavier. Isaac, born May 1, 1823 ; married Phebe J. Draper, 
January 25, 1856; died April 20, 1892. Olive Wright, born 
March 22, 1825 ; died unmarried, December 9, 1849. 

Mrs. Fletcher died January 1, 1851. 

Mr. Fletcher, died November 2, 1853 ; buried in North Yard. 



251 

JONAS KEYES. 

Jonas Keyes, son of Ezekel and Abigail Keyes, was born 
in Chelmsford, Mass., in 1731. He was a brother of Abner 
Keyes, and a descendant of Solomon Keyes, the emigrant an- 
cestor who landed in Newbury, Mass., about 1650. Mr. Keyes 
married Elizabeth Townsend, of Billerica, Mass., April 21, 1756, 
and settled in Mollis, N. H., at a point called, Keyes Hill, near 
the James Brazier land, where he lived as best he could, eaking 
out a bare subsistance at farming, until the spring of 1764, when 
he removed to Plymouth, N. H., one of the first settlers there, set- 
tling on the Pemigewasset river, where he afterwards built a 
ferry across, which was a great accommodation to the public, 
from which he at times received a revenue. He occupied some of 
the best land in Plymouth, and became <a well-to-do farmer. 

His children were: Azekiel, born in Hollis, in 1756; mar- 
ried Elizabeth McCollister, June 12, 1815. Betsey, born in Hollis, 
Anna, born in Hollis. Peter, born in Hollis, December 26, 1761 ; 
married Rhoda Durkee, November 1, 1781. John, born in Hollis, 
in 1763 ; married Martha Avery, June 26, 1797 ; residence, 
Plymouth. 

Jonas Keyes, died in Plymouth, N. H., in 1815. 



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